Photo by Ian Hunter. She had the BRCA1 gene mutation. Because she was at high risk of her cancer spreading, she had a double mastectomy followed by an oophorectomy to remove her ovaries. During her treatment Moraitis joined two clinical trials run through The Ottawa Hospital.
As part of the first trial, she ran three times a week on a treadmill. Breast cancer patients ran on treadmills during a clinical trial to help determine the importance of cardiovascular exercise while undergoing cancer therapy. Roanne Segal, the treadmill-study results showed that patients with breast cancer who did an hour of cardiovascular exercise three times a week felt the best, and Moraitis fit into that category.
The second trial was Dr. Cancer patients have long claimed that chemotherapy was affecting the way they think. The Ottawa Hospital led the way in being one of the first in the world to do a pre-and-post study of the effects of chemotherapy on the brain.
Since then, it has become a huge area of research for different kinds of cancer treatment. Collins and her colleagues designed a clinical trial to look at patients before, during and after chemotherapy. Twenty trial participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging MRI studies where brain activity was observed while they responded to cognitive questions. Photo by Gina Watson. Staff at the Breast Health Centre introduced Moraitis to the support group Breast Cancer Action, where she met several other breast cancer survivors.
Relationships began to blossom and the women often went for coffee after their exercise class. They became close friends and formed a book club that continues to meet once a month. Moraitis felt very supported by the programs and staff at The Ottawa Hospital and was inspired to give back, to help future patients have a better chance of survival. The support I received was immeasurable — psychologically, physically, and emotionally. The Ottawa Hospital is raising funds for cancer research.
