Being diagnosed with breast cancer is devastating for anyone to hear, but Judy Dobec said her journey was made much easier with the wonderful care available at RVH.
While sitting in the all-new Oncology Unit during a chemotherapy treatment, she was deeply appreciative for the prompt, top-notch care she received in the days and months following the life-altering news.
“Even though I have a strong family history of cancer, it’s still a shock to hear those words,” Dobec says about mentally processing the long list of the doctor’s appointments, surgeries and treatments that would fill her calendar.
“There was no waiting around,” she recounts the timing of her diagnosis to surgery. “When you’re going through something like this, it’s important that it doesn’t drag out. I am extremely thankful for how quickly everything fell into place.”
Dr. Susan Krajewski, a specialist in breast cancer surgery performed Dobec’s lumpectomy just weeks after the diagnosis. “We are so fortunate to a surgeon like her at our hospital.”
Each member of the medical team she encountered on surgery day made Dobec feel completely at ease—from surgery preparations, to x-ray, to post-operation.
For her chemotherapy treatments, Dobec was one of the first oncology patients to fully benefit from the updated unit and view through the large picture windows, overlooking the Healing Garden.
“When I started here that summer, the water fountain was still running so it was lovely to look out at the beautiful gardens. It makes the treatments go a little quicker when you can relax and enjoy looking outside.”
These special touches and personal attention from the staff makes such a difference to patients, says Dobec: “you never feel like a number here.”
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