Inspiring Advances in Cancer Treatment – Their Impact

Karen Cotnam, one of many patients participating in clinical trials at Sunnybrook, inspired her to become a donor.

Karen Cotnam recalls the moment she felt like everything was going to be fine during her fostering journey. It was when an MRI technician from Sunnybrook said, “Hi, I’m Lynn.”

The Montessori specialist and mother of two was in Sunnybrook’s Odette Cancer Program for radiation to treat a brain tumor called glioma. The slow-growing cancer, first diagnosed more than two decades ago, had morphed into a more aggressive, high-grade form of the disease. Cancers of this type are usually treated with surgery, but in Karen’s case, the tumor was alarmingly close to the language center of her brain.

Rather than undergo risky surgery, Karen’s surgeon referred her to Sunnybrook’s world-renowned Cancer Ablation Therapy Program.

“Everyone I met had the same name as the people in my family,” laughs Karen. “My brother-in-law is Lynn. My nurse’s name was Ada. That’s my mother-in-law’s name. And on the last day of radiation, my therapist was Thomas, my father’s name.”

“I always thought angels were watching over me,” says Karen.

Participation in a clinical study in Sunnybrook

also dr Arjun Sahgal, director of the Cancer Ablation Therapy Program and radiation oncologist who oversaw Karen’s treatment, kept a close eye on her progress. As a participant in a clinical trial at Sunnybrook, Karen received magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before and at key points during her radiation course. dr Sahgal and his team used the scans to visualize the tumor and adjust Karen’s treatment accordingly.

dr Arjun Sahgal and Karen Cotnam chat outside of the Odette Cancer Center in Sunnybrook.

The trial was an important precursor to the arrival of a Canadian-first technology in Sunnybrook, made possible by generous donors: the Elekta Unity MR-Linac.

The groundbreaking technology of the MR-Linac combines the power of high-field magnetic resonance imaging and radiation therapy, allowing physicians to see the radiation as they work in real time. Even more remarkable, they can use what they see to plan the next day’s treatment, making radiation therapy even more personalized.

Although Karen’s daily radiation doses weren’t guided by real-time imaging, doctors performed MRIs throughout her 33 treatments to ensure the tumor was responding as planned.

“If it didn’t work, Dr. Sahgal then change course instead of waiting a month for the result,” says Karen, comfortable with this personalized approach.

The results of this and subsequent studies at Sunnybrook are aiding in the development of standard procedures for adapting a patient’s radiation treatment to changes in the tumor that may occur over time.

“This is brand new technology,” says Dr. Sahgal about the MR Linac. “We learn the technical aspects of the machine from the ground up and develop frameworks that the rest of the world can use.” Sunnybrook shares these learnings as one of seven founding members of an international consortium leading the development of the MR-Linac.

Hand back

Knowing her participation could help future patients inspire Karen to make a difference in other ways, too. She recently made a donation to help Dr. To thank Sahgal and the Cancer Ablation Therapy team for their exceptional care and support in their future research.

I used to work for the Oshawa Seniors Center as a Montessori specialist in adult day programs. I know the value of clinical research. It takes little time for the customer but makes a big difference to the world. That’s why I wanted Dr. Help Sahgal,” says Karen.

Karen also wanted the entire team to know that they made a huge difference in their lives.

“If I can give them some of the recognition they deserve through a donation, then I wanted to do that. They were all my angels.”