‘Reconstructing Hope’ for breast cancer patients
Announcing a $100K gift to advance breast reconstruction research
NYGH plastic surgeons Dr. Ron Somogyi and Dr. Waqqas Jalil
Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis can feel as though time is standing still. It can bring on an array of thoughts and feeling of fear and dread that can seem unbearable.
For North York General Hospital (NYGH) plastic surgeons Dr. Ron Somogyi and Dr. Waqqas Jalil, working with breast cancer patients during their cancer journey is part of what they do, offering healing and hope for women impacted by the disease. As integral members of the surgical team at NYGH, their focus is to reconstruct breasts after part or all of a woman’s breasts have been removed through a lumpectomy or a full mastectomy. Their work is critical to rebuilding a woman’s confidence and resilience in the face of a terrifying and often disfiguring disease.
Dr. Somogyi and Dr. Jalil work intimately with the rest of the cancer team to ensure that options for reconstruction are considered from the very beginning of the breast cancer journey. At NYGH, most patients are offered reconstruction that can be performed at the time of their breast cancer surgery. This has tremendous psychological and physical benefit. In these cases, Dr. Somogyi and Dr. Jalil plan and execute the surgery together with the surgical oncologists. Once the mastectomy or lumpectomy has been performed, breast implants or the patient’s own tissues can be used for reconstruction. Depending on the complexity, surgeries can take up to 10 hours, but the rewards are everlasting.
In addition to their work at NYGH, Dr. Somogyi and Dr. Jalil are also the founders of FORM Face + Body — a private plastic surgery clinic in North York, specializing in reconstructive, and aesthetic breast surgery and many other procedures.
Announcing a $100K gift to advance breast reconstruction research
Today, Drs Somogyi and Jalil announced a $100K gift to North York General Foundation to advance breast cancer care as part of their ‘Reconstruct Hope’ initiative, aligning with Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) day.
The doctors’ unique dual practice in both the aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery worlds allows them to use skills from each realm to ensure the best outcomes for both groups of patients. This financial initiative represents another unique benefit of this practice duality. Using funds generated at their private aesthetic practice to help support their reconstructive patients at North York General represents another way that the doctors’ combine their two worlds.
“Giving back to our patients and community is something that is extremely important to us,” Dr Jalil said. “Our hope with the Reconstruct Hope campaign is that it will help not only stimulate awareness about breast cancer reconstruction but also motivate others to give back to their respective communities.”
Both Dr. Somogyi and Dr. Jalil have a deep understanding of the impact of breast cancer and how it can ravage a woman’s body, mind and spirit. They know that breast removal can destroy self-confidence and feelings of femininity. That’s why they value their work in restoring resilience and self esteem, and why they felt it was important to further breast cancer research.
“The work we do is patient-focused,” Dr. Somogyi said. “It gives us a real sense of the difference our work can make. That is both humbling and gratifying. We never lose sight of the fact that what we do is just a piece of the puzzle. The cancer surgeons do the work to make these patients well again and then we come in to do our part. It’s a team effort that changes lives for the better and we’re proud to help along the way.”
Dr. Somogyi and Dr. Jalil present the cheque to North York General Foundation Chief Development Officer Elain Evans
