Words Dr. Mona Mazgani, Gynecologic Oncologist
Victoria General Hospital in Support of the Victoria Hospitals Foundation
Every year, hundreds of women on Vancouver Island face a gynecologic cancer diagnosis. In the wave of uncertainty and fear that often follows, hope always rises to the surface. But hope alone is not enough – outcomes depend on how quickly women receive a diagnosis, surgery and care. It’s why I have devoted my life’s work to ensuring every woman has access to the treatment and support they need – when they need it most.
I arrived at Victoria General Hospital in 2010 to launch the Island’s first specialized gynecologic oncology program – only the second in B.C. At the time, I was a mother to three young boys, building the program from scratch, and the sole gynecologic oncologist for the entire region. Saying no to a patient in need was never an option.
From the beginning, this community has supported my work by funding critical medical equipment that has helped advance the treatment of women’s cancers on Vancouver Island – cancers such as ovarian, cervical and endometrial. My first surgical instrument – a gamma detection system – was funded by donors to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation. That generosity redefined what was possible in the operating room and planted a truth that has never left me: our community can help drive medical innovation in our hospitals.
Rates of gynecologic cancers are rising, and we are seeing more women in their 30s and 40s being diagnosed. Last year alone, our team performed more than 500 complex gynecologic oncology surgeries at Victoria General Hospital – procedures that require highly specialized skills and advanced equipment. Without timely access, women are forced to travel to the mainland for life-saving surgery, enduring delays that can allow aggressive cancers to advance. To protect their futures, we must shorten wait times, expand our capacity, and ensure world-class surgical care is available right here at home.
That’s where the Victoria Hospitals Foundation’s “It’s Time for Surgical Innovation” campaign comes in – bringing best-in-class tools to elevate care. One standout in this campaign is the SPYPHI system, which uses fluorescent dye and a special camera to illuminate lymph nodes, tumours and blood vessels with stunning precision. It lets us see what the naked eye cannot, allowing targeted surgery that preserves healthy tissue, reduces complications, and often avoids open procedures altogether. It’s just one of 50 different equipment pieces and the Island’s first robotic system being funded through this campaign, all designed to improve the lives of patients across Vancouver Island.
Today, there are three gynecologic oncologists in Victoria – myself, Dr. Trevor Cohen and Dr. Shaina Lee. With an expanded team, we are working to equip a second fully outfitted surgical suite at VGH, including not one, but two SPYPHI modules, so two surgeries can happen at once when needed. This will save lives by shortening wait times and bring advanced cancer care closer to home.
What we are building together will transform women’s health on Vancouver Island. It is an honour to stand with this community in that mission. Because every woman deserves the very best care– right here at home. Learn more at www.victoriahf.ca/time.
