When the Doctor Becomes the Patient

Dr. Tracy Sexton has a unique perspective on cancer. Not only is she a Radiation Oncologist at the London Regional Cancer Program (LRCP), she is a cancer patient herself. She is also a wife and the mother of a 10-year old daughter. She is 37 years old.

Dr. Sexton graduated from the University of British Columbia in 1998 with a PhD in Genetics and in 2002 with her medical degree. Choosing Radiation Oncology as her specialty, she came to London in 2002 to begin her residency training at LRCP. In March 2006, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was 36 year old, the same age as her mother when she was diagnosed.

At the time, Dr. Sexton was just starting the 5th and final year of her residency training. She was determined to graduate with her peers, and continued to work full-time through surgery and chemotherapy, completing that part of her treatment in late September 2006. She completed the second phase of treatment 2 months ago.

Dr. Sexton credits the amount of support she received from family, friends and colleagues for helping her to accomplish her goal.

“About a dozen colleagues and staff at LRCP shaved their heads in support when I lost my hair, she says. “The cards, flowers, fresh fruit and other goodies left on my desk helped me get through the bad days and carry on.”

In 2006, Dr. Sexton was asked to captain the team participating in the CIBC Run for the Cure in support of breast cancer research. She expected to have a team of about 20, but that number grew to 120, raising $9,500. They won the corporate spirit award for most money raised by a corporate team in London. Dr. Sexton co-captained the team again this year and the news is just in that they raised $10,460.

In May of this year, Dr. Sexton passed her Board exams, and completed her residency training in June. She started as a full-time Radiation Oncologist in July, treating patients with breast, genito-urinary and gastrointestinal cancers, as well as pediatric patients. She plans to get involved in translational research in breast and prostate cancers.

Dr. Michael Lock, Medical Director of the Radiation Treatment Program at LRCP says, “Dr. Sexton’s personal experience as a cancer patient has given her unique insight into the issues and concerns of her patients. The fact that she continued to work and carry on as normal a life as possible is truly inspirational to her colleagues, and to the patients under her care.”

Dr. Sexton poses with image of staff who shaved their heads in support when she lost her hair.