Juanita Crook乌鸦传媒檚 lifelong love of learning has propelled her to become one of the province乌鸦传媒檚 foremost experts on breast cancer, but her passion for medicine wasn乌鸦传媒檛 immediately obvious in her early life.
乌鸦传媒淕rowing up, I was interested in science and biology, but also literature and languages. I didn乌鸦传媒檛 know I乌鸦传媒檇 pursue medicine until the end of my second year at the University of Toronto乌鸦传媒攖hat乌鸦传媒檚 when I decided that the most interesting aspect of biology involved human beings.乌鸦传媒�
Now a professor of radiation oncology at UBC and an oncologist with the B.C. Cancer Agency, Crook乌鸦传媒檚 career path came about as much by fate as by choice.
乌鸦传媒淚 enjoyed a lot of different specialties and I originally trained to be a general practitioner,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淏ut due to social circumstances, I had to stay in Toronto for a year after graduating.
乌鸦传媒淪o for that year I worked as a medical assistant at Princess Margaret Hospital and that乌鸦传媒檚 where I first became interested in oncology.乌鸦传媒�
Through some act of fate, Crook met Dr. Jean-Philippe Pignol at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, where she first learned of brachytherapy.
A common treatment for prostate cancer, brachytherapy involves the surgical insertion of radioactive time-release capsules that directly irradiate cancerous cells without harming healthy tissues.
Dr. Pignol had adapted the technique for use in breast cancer cases and together, Pignol and Crook worked on several early treatments.
乌鸦传媒淲hen I moved to British Columbia, Dr. Pignol approached me and asked if I乌鸦传媒檇 be interested in establishing that program here. It乌鸦传媒檚 quite a different skill-set. It乌鸦传媒檚 ultrasound-guided and the needle insertion is fairly basic, but the breast is very different from the prostate, so there was a learning curve,乌鸦传媒� she said.
Crook, who is now well known in the medical community for bringing the treatment west, says that advancing the treatment also involved challenges such as obtaining ethics approval and funding the procedure. The treatment isn乌鸦传媒檛 yet considered a standard approach in breast cancer cases and as a result, it乌鸦传媒檚 typically funded through donations rather than through insurance coverage.But, despite the difficulties, Crook has stayed committed to making the treatment available to the women under her care. An avid runner, she participated in the 2013 BMO Okanagan Marathon and raised $77,000 in donations to fund brachytherapy for breast cancer patients乌鸦传媒攕omething that she says is improving patients乌鸦传媒� quality of life.
乌鸦传媒淚 was actually somewhat surprised at how successful the fundraising was. As a result, I乌鸦传媒檝e been able to keep offering women this treatment for early-stage localized breast cancer. The first step (in a standard breast cancer treatment) is to remove the lump and assess the lymph nodes and then radiate the whole breast. But the technique I乌鸦传媒檝e invented makes it easy to target the tumor.乌鸦传媒�
Crook says that thanks to brachytherapy, it乌鸦传媒檚 possible to administer a full course of radiation therapy in a single, one-hour outpatient procedure. In contrast, standard radiation procedures typically require a series of daily appointments over the course of three to five weeks.
Crook is also passionate about teaching this new procedure to British Columbia乌鸦传媒檚 next generation of oncologists. As an oncology professor with UBC乌鸦传媒檚 Faculty of Medicine, she is in a prime position to show medical students not only the many benefits of brachytherapy, but also the many procedures and precautions involved in performing brachytherapy safely and well.
While her work in medicine may be demanding, Crook is committed to living a balanced life and she places a high priority on her physical and mental health. Aside from hiking, canoeing, snowboarding and cross-country skiing, she乌鸦传媒檚 also an avid marathon runner. Crook notes that running marathons is a great way to stay in shape and take time to relax.
In addition to practicing and teaching medicine, Crook works hard to make health knowledge available to the general public. She regularly speaks at information sessions for those looking to learn more about cancer and oncology and she乌鸦传媒檚 a frequent guest speaker at prostate and breast cancer support groups in Kelowna and Vernon.
Throughout her years in practice, one central life lesson has guided her to make successful treatments available to patients and to help her become one of the most respected physicians in her field: Constant analysis.
乌鸦传媒淎lways evaluate the results of what you乌鸦传媒檙e doing in an ongoing way 乌鸦传媒� that乌鸦传媒檚 how you find out where you can improve. That乌鸦传媒檚 how you make a lot of progress.乌鸦传媒�
Crook乌鸦传媒檚 focus on analysis is what is driving her to start new programs and protocols in cancer research and treatment乌鸦传媒攁nd that乌鸦传媒檚 what keeps her interested in her work.
乌鸦传媒淩esearch is a big part of what I do and it乌鸦传媒檚 clinical research乌鸦传媒攊t乌鸦传媒檚 not lab-based. It乌鸦传媒檚 keeping track of what the problems are and how to improve them.乌鸦传媒�
And while her passion for her work is obvious, she says that having a personal life is essential to staying productive and happy. For Dr. Juanita Crook, that looks like hiking, canoeing, painting and snowboarding.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 important to not be too consumed by the work aspect of your life, even if you love it. It乌鸦传媒檚 a huge part of you, yes, but it乌鸦传媒檚 not the only part.乌鸦传媒�
Crowe MacKay乌鸦传媒檚 Women to Watch program is a weekly feature that profiles remarkable women in our community. This feature series is a joint initiative between Crowe MacKay, the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce and the 乌鸦传媒. To nominate the exceptional woman in your life, email womentowatch@kelownachamber.org.
