Sandra was surprised to learn that the upper portion of her right lung was affected by early-stage cancer. Always on the go, Sandra was able to dance and do other activities without any noticeable symptoms.
But early-stage lung cancer is notoriously difficult to detect. It often causes few or no symptoms. Whatever the type, nobody wants to hear they have cancer.
Dr. Gazala, a Thoracic Surgeon at our hospital, helped calm Sandra’s fears at their first meeting.
“Dr. Gazala answered all my questions, and he had the most incredibly lovely, gentle manner. I was unbelievably impressed,” says Sandra.
He went on to perform a minimally invasive surgery to remove part of her lung. Sandra returned home three days later and was able to quickly resume her active lifestyle, including walking at least 30 minutes each day.
She now sees Dr. Gazala annually to confirm, via CT imaging, that her lungs remain cancer-free. His patient-centred approach hasn’t changed one bit, says Sandra. “Dr. Gazala’s ability to make every patient feel like an individual is worth its weight in gold,” she adds.
Excellence in thoracic surgery
Dr. Gazala and his colleagues comprise one of the leading thoracic surgery teams in Canada. They treat cancerous and non-cancerous conditions in the chest and upper abdomen, including the lungs, esophagus and stomach. As a regional thoracic surgery centre, Michael Garron Hospital serves patients from across the Greater Toronto Area and Central Ontario.
This year, the team began delivering robotic-assisted thoracic surgery using the da Vinci Surgical System. Like other minimally invasive “keyhole” surgeries, robotic-assisted surgery is associated with less pain and shorter recovery times than traditional approaches that require large incisions.
Thoracic surgery with the da Vinci robot offers additional advantages, such as improved visualization of the surgical area and enhanced precision. And because surgeons operate while sitting at a console, they experience less fatigue during long procedures.
Out of gratitude for the wonderful care she received, Sandra donated generously to help replace our da Vinci Surgical System with a new one in late 2024 as it reached the end of its serviceable life.
“I really, really lucked out when I got Dr. Gazala. I cannot speak highly enough about him,” she says. “I figured who better to show my appreciation to than the surgeon and hospital that saved my life, and that will go on to save other people’s lives.”
To ensure all our patients have access to the best possible care, please give at mghf.ca/donate
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