When Kirsten Kay’s husband heard a radio ad announcing that the starting age for breast cancer screening had been lowered from 50 to 40, he encouraged her to book an appointment.

There was no lump. Kirsten had no symptoms and no reason to believe anything was wrong. Still, the message stayed with him.

He kept saying, ‘I think you should go,’” Kirsten recalled. “We couldn’t feel anything, but I thought, he’s right. My mom passed away from lung cancer, and even though it wasn’t connected, I wanted to take every precaution.”

At 42, Kirsten booked her first mammogram on the Screen for Life Coach. She attended her appointment in December 2024 and later received a letter explaining that additional testing was needed. A biopsy followed. At the end of January, Kirsten received a phone call from her doctor confirming that she had breast cancer.

“I was shocked,” she said. “There were a lot of tears because there were so many unknowns. But I had already determined that I wasn’t going anywhere. This wasn’t where my story was going to end.”

Kirsten was diagnosed with stage one invasive ductal carcinoma. Because the cancer had been found through screening, it was detected before she could feel it herself.

Kirsten underwent a partial mastectomy two days before her 43rd birthday. She later completed nine rounds of radiation treatment, and rang the bell to mark the end of radiation on the same day as her daughter’s Grade 8 graduation.

“It was a big day in our house,” she said. “There was lots to celebrate.”

For Kirsten, the expansion of breast cancer screening to people in their 40s was particularly significant. Had the starting age stayed at 50, she would not have been eligible to self-refer through the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) when she booked her mammogram at 42. With no symptoms and no lump she could feel, she may not have discovered the cancer until it had grown larger.

That reality is not lost on her.

 “I will tell anybody who will listen: go for the test. If you’re in your 40s, you’re not too young,” she said. “Your life is more important than a few minutes of being uncomfortable. The squeeze isn’t as bad as people will have you believe, you’ve probably been hurt more by your toddler.”

Although Kirsten does not consider herself particularly superstitious, she believes someone may have been looking out for her from the beginning.

“My husband still doesn’t really know what prompted him to keep telling me to go,” she said. “I’ve always been convinced he had an angel whispering in his ear, saying, ‘You need to get her checked.’ Whatever it was, I’ll be forever grateful.”

Is it time to book your mammogram?

In Ontario, eligible women, Two-Spirit, trans and nonbinary people ages 40 to 74 can self-refer for breast cancer screening through OBSP, meaning a referral from a doctor or nurse practitioner is not required.

For most people at average risk, a screening mammogram is recommended every two years. Screening is intended for people who do not have symptoms and can find breast cancer before signs or symptoms develop.

To learn more about breast cancer screening, eligibility, or how to book an appointment, visit tbrhsc.net/breast-cancer-screening.

Every person has a story, and listening to those stories can help change the way we understand substance use and addiction.

In a new series of educational videos, individuals share their personal experiences and perspectives on stigma, substance use, addiction, and health care. Their stories offer an important opportunity to listen, learn, and better understand how our words, actions, and assumptions can affect those seeking care.

These videos also honour those who have been lost to substance use and addiction-related harms and acknowledge the grief experienced by their families, friends, and loved ones. By sharing these experiences and perspectives, we can deepen our understanding of the impact of stigma and recognize the importance of approaching every person with compassion, dignity, and respect.

At Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, we recognize that stigma can create real barriers for patients and families. Outdated language, stereotypes, and misconceptions can influence how people are treated and whether they feel safe and supported when accessing care. By listening to and learning from people with lived and living experience, we can challenge these assumptions and help create a more compassionate, inclusive, and welcoming environment.

Developed as part of the Patient Experience pillar of Strategic Plan 2026 and our ongoing work to reduce stigma associated with substance use and addiction, these videos reflect our collective resolve to do better and to move forward with greater compassion, understanding, and respect for those seeking care.

We invite you to watch, listen to the stories and perspectives being shared, and reflect on how each of us can help reduce stigma and make a positive difference.

This week, we hear from Joelle Macey:

For more stories visit bit.ly/confronting-stigma-TBRHSC

We’re developing our next Strategic Plan, and your feedback is essential. This is your opportunity to share ideas, identify priorities, and help guide the future direction of our organization.

We want to know:

• What can we do better and/or more efficiently?
• What can we do less of, or stop doing altogether?
• How can we better connect clinical care, research, education and everyday work so that they support each other more effectively?
• Looking ahead to 2032, what would make you proud to work here as an academic?

Staff are being invited to focus groups to share their perspectives and inform the development of the new Strategic Plan.

Session 1

• Date: Monday, October 26
• Time: 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• Location: Auditoriums A & B

Session 2:

• Date: Tuesday, October 27
• Time: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Auditorium A

Drop in to either of the sessions to provide your feedback. We look forward to seeing you there!

To complete the survey, click here or scan the QR code below.

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre greatly values your efforts in providing exceptional care to our community. To show our appreciation, we’ve partnered with Sport Chek to offer you an exclusive employee discount on your purchases.

This is a limited time offer from October 15 – October 28, 2026 (in store) for VIP Pricing.

Process

• To redeem this offer, please click the link to get your unique barcode. This unique barcode can be printed or shown on a mobile device via Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Safari. Use of other internet applications is not recommended as problems may occur. Barcode will not work if alphanumeric code is not present.

• Please ensure you have your unique barcode with you before purchasing, as cashiers will not be able to process a transaction without it. 

Your unique URL to retrieve your discount code is: https://coupon.sportchek.ca?code=8KPBPDQVJ45246998856

*If the discount code link is not clickable, please copy and paste the full link into your web browser’s address bar to access the page.

For more information and promotional guidelines, please review the Sport Chek VIP Pricing information sheet on the following link: https://informed.tbrhsc.net/employee-experience-well-being/affinity-program-employee-discounts/resources/vip-thunder-bay-regional-health-sciences-centre-(1.pdf

For questions or concerns, please reach out to Kim Myros, Employee Experience and Well-Being Consultant at kimberly.myros@tbh.net.

All the best and happy shopping!

The renovation of the Outpatient Laboratory and Electrocardiogram (ECG) area marks an important early step in preparing Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) for cardiovascular surgery and strengthening the diagnostic services that support patients throughout their care journey.

The renovated space now provides dedicated areas for laboratory blood draws and ECG testing. The new layout improves accessibility and mobility, providing more room for walkers, wheelchairs and other mobility aids, so patients can move through the area more safely and easily. There is also more space when there is a support person present, such as a parent accompanying a child for testing, helping to reduce stress and make the experience more positive for patients, families and staff. Additionally, enhanced lighting and a more efficient equipment layout further support a better working environment for staff.

“This renovation gives our team the dedicated space we need to provide smoother, more comfortable care for the people of our region,” said Jill Kuzmich, Manager, Stroke, Neurology, Cardiac Diagnostics and Cardiac Rehabilitation. “By separating our ECG and lab draw areas, we’re improving privacy, accessibility, and workflow while strengthening support for cardiovascular surgery. We’re thrilled to see this progress and proud of what it means for our community.’”

“The updated space has a bright, modern feel and creates a more welcoming environment for patients,” said Lyl Stavropoulos, Manager, Laboratory, Specimen Collection and Dispatch. “It’s exciting to see these improvements taking place as the Hospital continues to grow and prepare for the cardiovascular surgery services ahead. It’s a positive change that will benefit both our patients and the staff who care for them.”

Beyond the immediate improvements, the renovation positions TBRHSC for future growth. As cardiovascular services evolve, the enhanced outpatient space strengthens the outpatient diagnostic pathway that is essential to pre-operative assessments, ongoing monitoring and follow-up care for patients from across Northwestern Ontario.

Photos: Renovated Reception (left), ECG (centre) and Phlebotomy (right) areas.

Construction is now underway on the new pedestrian pathway along the north side of Ron Saddington Way. The pathway will connect the existing westbound bus pad to the sidewalk farther east, providing a safer, dedicated pedestrian route.

Construction is expected to take approximately three weeks, with completion anticipated in early November, subject to weather and site conditions.

For their safety, staff are reminded to avoid the construction area until the new pathway is completed and open for use. Please continue to use established pedestrian routes and observe all construction signage and barriers.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation as this improvement is completed.

Medical Affairs is pleased to announce that Dr. Felipe Restini has joined the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre as a Radiation Oncologist with the Department of Oncology.

Dr. Felipe Restini completed his Radiation Oncology training at Hospital Sírio-Libanês in Brazil and a fellowship in Genitourinary and Breast Malignancies at McGill University Health Centre. He holds a Doctor of Medicine from Faculdade Santa Marcelina and has completed additional training in clinical research, biostatistics, and health systems innovation. His clinical expertise includes advanced radiation therapy techniques, including stereotactic radiosurgery, stereotactic body radiation therapy, image-guided radiotherapy, and brachytherapy. He served as Head of the Radiation Therapy Department at Hospital Regional Rota dos Bandeirantes in Brazil.

Dr. Restini is committed to advancing cancer care through research, technological innovation, and evidence-based practice. His research focuses on artificial intelligence and radiomics to predict treatment outcomes in genitourinary cancers, with publications in peer-reviewed journals, including Scientific Reports. He has presented his work at international conferences, received recognition for his research, and earned Best Oral Presentation at CORTO in 2025. He brings a strong interest in personalized cancer care and integrating innovative approaches to improve patient outcomes.

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Dr. Felipe Restini as he joins Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. We look forward to the expertise, innovation, and dedication he brings to our patients, colleagues, and the cancer care community.

This week (October 11-17) is dedicated to celebrating and recognizing the passion, persistence and dedication to patient care that our Emergency Department nurses display every single day.

This team of health care professionals focus on the immediate care of patients who require medical attention to avoid long-term disability or death. It is a complex role, treating the trigger event for the emergency visit as well as communicating with the patient, the families, and the care team. This frontline role is very patient centered, not only physically but emotionally too. People in emergency situations often feel distraught and upset. So, the emergency nurse must treat the emotions as well as the emergency medical issue. It can be chaotic, especially if the cause of the visit is a violent incident.

Please join us in thanking our Emergency Department nurses for their tremendous contributions to patient care in our community.

The second full week of each October (11-17) is dedicated to celebrating the important role of medical device reprocessing departments (MDRD) across the country, just like the one at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.

The MDRD staff is made up of certified technicians that wash, inspect, assemble, wrap, sterilize and distribute instruments to the Operating Room and clinics throughout our Hospital.

With a focus on patient safety and quality assurance, the proper reprocessing of reusable patient care items is more important than it ever has been.Staff in the MDRD work almost 24/7 to make sure physicians, nurses and surgeons have the clean, sterile instruments they need to provide exceptional care for every patient, every time.

The MDRD team is fundamental to achieving excellent patient safety and outcomes. Thank you for all that you do!

Interested in joining this fantastic team? Apply today ➡️ https://bit.ly/4nMQVJH

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Prevention and Screening Clinical Services team wore pink to show support and to raise awareness about breast cancer screening.

Wear pink throughout the month of October and don’t forget to book your breast screening mammogram. Did you know? Those eligible, including staff, can now conveniently book their screening mammogram online at the Linda Buchan Centre.

To find out if you are due for breast screening, click here. Thank you for participating.