Breast Clinical Programs

As the largest comprehensive breast cancer centre in Canada, the M. Lau Breast Centre at Princess Margaret offers cutting-edge, novel clinical programs that support men and women at risk for, or who have been diagnosed with, breast cancer.

From screening, diagnosis and treatment planning and delivery through to survivorship, our centre continually strives to ensure that we are setting the standard for best practices in breast cancer prevention and treatment.

Our inter-disciplinary team of medical, radiation and surgical oncologists works with our team of breast imaging specialists, breast-specific pathologists, plastic and reconstructive surgeons, nurses, social workers and other allied health professionals. Our team develops individual treatment plans that treat the whole person, not just the disease.

We offer chemotherapy, hormone therapy and molecular targeted therapy in neoadjuvant, adjuvant and metastatic settings, assessing individual risk to develop a personalized treatment plan. Follow-up care and monitoring are provided for side effects, recurrences, late effects and complications that can result from hormone therapy.

Through collaboration between our departments of radiation medicine and surgical oncology, we offer access to intraoperative radiotherapy for small tumours, as well as novel strategies for quick and efficient delivery of radiotherapy.

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Breast Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

As a division of the Princess Margaret Surgical Oncology Department, the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Oncology Program is a centre of excellence for the repair and restoration of both function and appearance using state-of-the-art techniques.

Our plastic and reconstructive surgeons work as part of the surgical team with inter-professional site groups to provide timely access and compassionate, top-quality care to people with cancer and cancer survivors. In some cases, reconstructive or salvage surgery is done simultaneously with primary surgical cancer treatment, where appropriate.

The Breast Restoration Program within the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Oncology program is the largest and most comprehensive program of its kind in Canada. Performing breast reconstruction procedures on over 300 women every year, our team has the expertise to excel in breast restoration techniques.

Learn more about the Breast Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery »

Cancer Rehab and Survivorship Program

The Cancer Rehab and Survivorship (CRS) program provides many services to support patients during and after cancer treatment. Patients access the CRS program as an outpatient.

Learn more about the Cancer Rehab and Survivorship Program »

Familial Cancer Clinic

The Princess Margaret Familial Cancer Clinic provides services for families who may be at risk of hereditary cancer. These services may be available to people who have a personal diagnosis of cancer or those with a strong family history.

As part of their genetic counselling appointment, patients will have the opportunity to discuss:

  • Individual cancer risks
  • Personalized cancer screening recommendations
  • Eligibility for genetic testing
  • Risks, benefits, and limitations of genetic testing
  • The latest advances in cancer genetics
  • Options for participating in research studies

For families with an identified cancer risk, high risk cancer screening and risk reduction options are discussed and may be coordinated through specialty clinics such as the High-Risk Breast Cancer Clinic.

Learn more about the Familial Cancer Clinic »

Gattuso Rapid Diagnostic Centre

The Gattuso Rapid Diagnostic Centre (GRDC) helps people quickly find out if they have breast cancer. Most breast changes are not breast cancer. Getting a diagnosis quickly means that many people will spend less time worrying. For those who find out they have cancer, it means getting treatment sooner.

Learn more about the Gattuso Rapid Diagnostic Centre »

High-Risk Ontario Breast Screening Program

Women at high risk for breast cancer can receive annual breast MRI or bilateral breast ultrasound and mammographic screening as part of the Ontario Breast Screening Program.

Combined annual breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Mammography (MM) for women at high risk will improve their quality of care, ensuring that they receive the benefits of screening and promoting the early detection of breast cancer (CCO June 2011).

Learn more about the High-Risk Ontario Breast Screening Program »

Ontario Breast Screening Program

The Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) is a Cancer Care Ontario program. It provides high-quality mammography services for women 50 and older. Mammograms are free of charge for women in Ontario.

The OBSP provides:

  • High-quality mammograms at sites accredited by the Canadian Association of Radiologists
  • Well-developed quality assurance at each site
  • Results of the screening appointment within two weeks sent to you and your health care provider
  • Help to set up extra tests or referrals if your results suggest they are needed
  • A reminder letter when it is time for your next screening mammogram (usually every 2 years; women over age 74 do not receive a reminder letter, but are welcome to call for an appointment after they have discussed it with their health care provider)

Learn more about the Ontario Breast Screening Program »

QuickStart Radiation Therapy Program

Whole breast radiation therapy (RT) is the standard treatment option for women with breast cancer following breast-conserving surgery. On an annual basis, this treatment accounts for more than 60% of all breast cancer patients treated at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. In response to increasing rates of breast cancer and greater use of advanced, yet time-consuming planning methods, an innovative and efficient approach to treat patients and prevent delays was developed.

Implemented in January 2010, the QuickStart program brings together technological advances in software with clinical expertise to expedite scans, treatment planning and delivery of the first treatment, all within one day. It is now a treatment option offered to women with early-stage breast cancer at the Princess Margaret.

For patients who experience delays in their cancer journey prior to radiation therapy, having an expedited radiation therapy treatment process avoids potential negative impacts to their treatment outcomes. The QuickStart program offers breast patients the same quality and effective RT treatment without the unnecessary wait-time.

Learn more about the QuickStart Radiation Therapy Program »

Screening and Diagnostic Breast Imaging

The Joint Department of Medical Imaging provides a multimodality, comprehensive screening, diagnostic and interventional breast imaging service. This includes routine mammographic and ultrasound screening and surveillance, diagnostic mammography and ultrasound for work-up of clinical concerns and screening and diagnostic MRI. All types of breast biopsies are performed including ultrasound-guided, stereotactic
-guided in prone position, and MRI-guided. The diagnostic breast imaging services are provided in close collaboration with breast surgeons and pathologists. We also provide imaging through the Ontario Breast Screening Program, including the High Risk program.

Our facility has state of the art equipment including newer technologies like Digital Breast (3D mammography). At the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, breast imaging is performed and interpreted by a dedicated breast imaging technologists and radiologists.

Learn more about the Screening and Diagnostic Breast Imaging »

https://www.uhn.ca/PrincessMargaret/Health_Professionals/Programs_Departments/Breast/Pages/clinical_programs.aspx
https://www.uhn.ca/PrincessMargaret/Education/Continuing_Education_Programs/Pages/continuing_education_programs.aspx
Last reviewed: 5/29/2023
Last modified: 9/26/2023 10:59 AM
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