Juanita Crook害羞草研究所檚 lifelong love of learning has propelled her to become one of the province害羞草研究所檚 foremost experts on breast cancer, but her passion for medicine wasn害羞草研究所檛 immediately obvious in her early life.

害羞草研究所淕rowing up, I was interested in science and biology, but also literature and languages. I didn害羞草研究所檛 know I害羞草研究所檇 pursue medicine until the end of my second year at the University of Toronto害羞草研究所攖hat害羞草研究所檚 when I decided that the most interesting aspect of biology involved human beings.害羞草研究所�

Now a professor of radiation oncology at UBC and an oncologist with the B.C. Cancer Agency, Crook害羞草研究所檚 career path came about as much by fate as by choice.

害羞草研究所淚 enjoyed a lot of different specialties and I originally trained to be a general practitioner,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淏ut due to social circumstances, I had to stay in Toronto for a year after graduating.

害羞草研究所淪o for that year I worked as a medical assistant at Princess Margaret Hospital and that害羞草研究所檚 where I first became interested in oncology.害羞草研究所�

Through some act of fate, Crook met Dr. Jean-Philippe Pignol at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, where she first learned of brachytherapy.

A common treatment for prostate cancer, brachytherapy involves the surgical insertion of radioactive time-release capsules that directly irradiate cancerous cells without harming healthy tissues.

Dr. Pignol had adapted the technique for use in breast cancer cases and together, Pignol and Crook worked on several early treatments.

害羞草研究所淲hen I moved to British Columbia, Dr. Pignol approached me and asked if I害羞草研究所檇 be interested in establishing that program here. It害羞草研究所檚 quite a different skill-set. It害羞草研究所檚 ultrasound-guided and the needle insertion is fairly basic, but the breast is very different from the prostate, so there was a learning curve,害羞草研究所� she said.

Crook, who is now well known in the medical community for bringing the treatment west, says that advancing the treatment also involved challenges such as obtaining ethics approval and funding the procedure. The treatment isn害羞草研究所檛 yet considered a standard approach in breast cancer cases and as a result, it害羞草研究所檚 typically funded through donations rather than through insurance coverage.But, despite the difficulties, Crook has stayed committed to making the treatment available to the women under her care. An avid runner, she participated in the 2013 BMO Okanagan Marathon and raised $77,000 in donations to fund brachytherapy for breast cancer patients害羞草研究所攕omething that she says is improving patients害羞草研究所� quality of life.

害羞草研究所淚 was actually somewhat surprised at how successful the fundraising was. As a result, I害羞草研究所檝e been able to keep offering women this treatment for early-stage localized breast cancer. The first step (in a standard breast cancer treatment) is to remove the lump and assess the lymph nodes and then radiate the whole breast. But the technique I害羞草研究所檝e invented makes it easy to target the tumor.害羞草研究所�

Crook says that thanks to brachytherapy, it害羞草研究所檚 possible to administer a full course of radiation therapy in a single, one-hour outpatient procedure. In contrast, standard radiation procedures typically require a series of daily appointments over the course of three to five weeks.

Crook is also passionate about teaching this new procedure to British Columbia害羞草研究所檚 next generation of oncologists. As an oncology professor with UBC害羞草研究所檚 Faculty of Medicine, she is in a prime position to show medical students not only the many benefits of brachytherapy, but also  the many procedures and precautions involved in performing brachytherapy safely and well.

While her work in medicine may be demanding, Crook is committed to living a balanced life and she places a high priority on her physical and mental health. Aside from hiking, canoeing, snowboarding and cross-country skiing, she害羞草研究所檚 also an avid marathon runner. Crook notes that running marathons is a great way to stay in shape and take time to relax.

In addition to practicing and teaching medicine, Crook works hard to make health knowledge available to the general public. She regularly speaks at information sessions for those looking to learn more about cancer and oncology and she害羞草研究所檚 a frequent guest speaker at prostate and breast cancer support groups in Kelowna and Vernon.

Throughout her years in practice, one central life lesson has guided her to make successful treatments available to patients and to help her become one of the most respected physicians in her field: Constant analysis.

害羞草研究所淎lways evaluate the results of what you害羞草研究所檙e doing in an ongoing way 害羞草研究所� that害羞草研究所檚 how you find out where you can improve. That害羞草研究所檚 how you make a lot of progress.害羞草研究所�

Crook害羞草研究所檚 focus on analysis is what is driving her to start new programs and protocols in cancer research and treatment害羞草研究所攁nd that害羞草研究所檚 what keeps her interested in her work.

害羞草研究所淩esearch is a big part of what I do and it害羞草研究所檚 clinical research害羞草研究所攊t害羞草研究所檚 not lab-based. It害羞草研究所檚 keeping track of what the problems are and how to improve them.害羞草研究所�

And while her passion for her work is obvious, she says that having a personal life is essential to staying productive and happy. For Dr. Juanita Crook, that looks like hiking, canoeing, painting and snowboarding.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 important to not be too consumed by the work aspect of your life, even if you love it. It害羞草研究所檚 a huge part of you, yes, but it害羞草研究所檚 not the only part.害羞草研究所�

Crowe MacKay害羞草研究所檚 Women to Watch program is a weekly feature that profiles remarkable women in our community. This feature series is a joint initiative between Crowe MacKay, the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce and the 害羞草研究所. To nominate the exceptional woman in your life, email womentowatch@kelownachamber.org.