A surgeon from Manchester is stepping off the hospital ward and into her walking shoes to raise funds for an ultrasound doppler machine – to help give her breast cancer patients the “best care”.
A passionate surgeon who wants to improve the lives of her patients is set to walk a whole marathon – to raise funds for new breast cancer technology.
Dr Shazia Hafiz, consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon working at Chorley Hospital, will be stepping off the ward and into her walking shoes in the hope of raising enough money to buy an ultrasound doppler machine.
The machine, which will be for Lancashire teaching hospital, will allow better planning and care for breast cancer patients who are undergoing reconstructions following their cancer surgery.
Going the extra mile for breast cancer care
Dr Hafiz, who has never walked a marathon before, says she’s excited to face such a challenge, and has been training for the event by going on long hikes with her husband.
The lengthy walk, which is set for 23 October, will start in Manchester and finish at Chorley Breast Unit, totalling at 26.2 miles.
Speaking with Health Tech World, Shazia said she’s “extremely excited” in the run up to the event. She added: “I am simply driven by the cause for which we are raising this money.
“It will also be during the breast cancer awareness month where nationally there is often excellent campaigning and atmosphere by charities for breast cancer fundraising opportunities”
The £900 target would mean she could by the hand held device, and any additional costs will be donated to Lancashire teaching hospital.
She continued: “As a breast consultant I see patients through their breast cancer journey from diagnosis through to revisional surgery many years on following their initial treatment.
Delivering the best care is “vital”
“For me it is vital that we place our best efforts in delivering the best care at the point of delivery and to achieve this we have to ensure we push hard towards gaining access to medical devices and funds to allow for this type of gold standard service for the sake of our patients.
“I really do feel this will help me assess and mark my patients in the clinic before their surgery and streamline their care.
“I enjoy fundraising and charity events in general because I love the atmosphere and the feel-good factor that not only I feel but those around me when supporting an event like this.”
What is an ultrasound doppler machine?
A Doppler ultrasound machine has a hand-held scanner which is connected to a computer.
It uses soundwaves to make pictures of the blood flow in your major arteries and veins. Doppler ultrasound is a specific type of ultrasound which is used to look at blood flow.
Dr Hafiz described it: “By marking these vessels we can then offer ‘local perforator flap’ reconstruction surgery to our patients which allows for better physical and psychological outcomes.
“The alternative could be leaving our breast cancer patients with a breast defect following their cancer surgery which is not ideal.
“As oncoplastic breast surgeons we ensure safe removal of the cancer but also that our patients have an aesthetically acceptable outcome following their surgery and the device will aid in ensuring this.”
At the time of publication, Dr Hafiz had reached £450 of her £900 target.
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