Hope in a Critical Moment
Laura shares her story as one of the first seven people in the world to undergo a new treatment at Sunnybrook’s Cancer Ablation Therapy Program.
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After multiple rounds of chemotherapy, three neurosurgeries and a proton radiation treatment, the news that the tumour in her brain was still growing was not what Laura Kennedy was hoping to hear.
“It was a grim situation,” reflects Laura, who was 30 years old at the time and treating patients of her own as a psychiatrist in the Early Psychosis Unit at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).
Specialists at other hospitals in Canada and the U.S. told Laura she was running out of options.
Then everything changed.
A New Precision Treatment
Laura was referred to Sunnybrook, and she vividly remembers the moment she met Dr. Arjun Sahgal. “He was quietly confident in what he was able to do, and gave me great strength and renewed hope at a very challenging juncture in my life,” she says.
Dr. Sahgal is Chief of Radiation Oncology and Director of Sunnybrook’s Cancer Ablation Program, home to three donor-funded radiation technologies – the first of their kind in Canada – that are changing how tumours are targeted.
During their meeting, Laura learned about the Gamma Knife Icon and its pinpoint precision, which simply isn’t possible via other treatment means. Instead of requiring whole-brain radiation, the Gamma Knife Icon focuses hundreds of radiation beams on a single target while sparing healthy tissue.
Dr. Sahgal calls the technology “exquisite,” and after reviewing Laura’s case, he quickly determined that she might be an ideal candidate for the treatment.
“My previous radiation oncologist said that this was something that would take my life,” Laura says of her diagnosis. “Dr. Sahgal felt he could extend my life and do it safely by taking advantage of the unique attributions of the Gamma Knife Icon, despite my previous radiation treatment.”
“I was told there were no options, no hope, and no further treatments available to me. Everything changed when I came to Sunnybrook. Five years later, I have renewed strength, hope, and courage to create a future. I owe immense gratitude to Sunnybrook and Dr. Sahgal.”Laura Kennedy, grateful patient
One of the First Seven People in the World to receive this treatment
Over the next few months, Laura travelled to Sunnybrook for treatment. She became one of the first people in the world to undergo intense, precision radiation in an area of the brain that offers almost no margin for uncertainty.
“Dr. Sahgal is a master radiation oncologist,” says Laura. “He was able to deliver extremely precise re-radiation without side effects, and 5 years later I am fortunate enough to live a very meaningful life.”
The results of Dr. Sahgal’s world-first went on to be published in the Journal of Neurosurgery. “It was a great honour to lead this work,” says Dr. Sahgal. “It was possible because of people like Laura.”
“It’s high-risk, high-reward,” Dr. Sahgal adds. “We take calculated risk of serious side effects in order to control tumours and prolong life. It is a delicate balance, but ultimately we were able to show that we stopped tumours that grew through all other treatments.”
From the original first seven patients who were treated, Sunnybrook has since treated 30 people, with the results giving hope to more people with tumours that have evaded all other treatments.
Says Dr. Sahgal: “That’s what Sunnybrook is all about: being there ‘when it matters most,’ and ‘inventing the future of health care.’ It’s certainly what we did with Laura’s case, and it’s what we are hoping to do for even more people. ”
“This is also a prime example of how Sunnybrook donors allow us to help patients who otherwise would have no other options.”
Another Chance at Life
“It’s a little bit cliché,” says Laura, “but Dr. Sahgal gave me another chance at life.”
It has been four years since Laura met Dr. Sahgal, at a time when she was told she would have just months to live.
These days, Laura is continuing treatment with oral chemotherapy. She enjoys time with her friends and family, and is exploring old and new hobbies, like skiing, tennis and her childhood joy of horseback riding.
Laura is a psychiatrist at CAMH, where she says her experience as a patient at Sunnybrook has helped inform her approach to her own work.
“I’m more mindful of what people are going through physically and mentally, and the importance of including the whole family as part of the care team,” says Laura.
Laura experienced how profound it can be when a health-care professional says yes when no one else will. Like Dr. Sahgal, she hopes to create new possibilities for patients who have nowhere else to turn.
Says Laura: “Dr. Sahgal is a pillar of hope. He provided renewed hope and gave me strength at a time when I needed it most. Years after having Gamma Knife therapy, I know Arjun is truly just an email or phone call away. He is the definition of an outstanding doctor and an innovative leader in the field.”