Dr. Frances Wong Chief Physician and Radiation Oncologist, Abbotsford and Fraser Valley Centres Born in Hong Kong, Dr. Frances Wong immigrated to B.C. with her family when she was in high school. She was first introduced to oncology during a summer job at the BC Cancer Agency. She has been part of the Agency’s medical staff since the 1980s, treating patients with gynecological, breast and head & neck cancer. Dr. Wong is currently the Chief Physician at the BC Cancer Agency’s Abbotsford and Fraser Valley Centres. There, she and her colleagues have established the Breast Research to Evaluate Access and Services (BREAST) team in order to improve the care and treatment of patients across the province and take an in-depth look at the needs of cancer survivors. You can read Dr. Wong’s blog posts here.
Continued Progress: The Future of Cancer Research in B.C. By Dr. Frances Wong on Oct 30, 2013 Canadian society is made up of many immigrants. Currently, South Asians of Indian descent are the largest group of immigrants and many reside in the Fraser Valley region. Like many immigrant populations, the South Asian community has unique needs when it comes to accessing medical services. Our Breast Research to Evaluate Access and Services (BREAST) team has taken an in-depth look at the needs of cancer survivors: cancer patients who have completed treatment. In particular, we have conducted research into the needs of South Asian breast cancer patients. Among other information, the research... Continue Reading BC Cancer Surrey Centre, Breast Cancer, Philanthropy and Research
Philanthropy and Research: Bringing Results to Patients By Dr. Frances Wong on Oct 23, 2013 The BC Cancer Foundation’s sole mission is to support the BC Cancer Agency’s mandate to provide research and care to the population of British Columbia. Research, by definition, means taking risks in doing things differently, and seeing if new directions improve upon established approaches or not. This risk-taking is important to make progress. Through the years, countless number of patients and philanthropists have supported BC Cancer Agency researchers’ calculated risk-taking. Many discoveries have resulted in new drugs being developed, and new treatment methods being devised to improve... Continue Reading BC Cancer Abbotsford Centre, BC Cancer Surrey Centre, Breast Cancer, Philanthropy and Research
Advancing Breast Cancer Research in British Columbia By Dr. Frances Wong on Oct 16, 2013 Breast cancer is responsible for 20-25% of all cancers. Working with expert medical oncologists such as the late Dr. Brian Norris and Dr. Lee Ann Martin, I became acutely aware of the need for rapid diagnosis and timely referral to cancer centres for breast cancer patients. Around the same time, my daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer just before her 30 th birthday. I acted as her cancer journey navigator. Knowing and experiencing the breast cancer patient’s needs from both sides, my conviction to do research to improve the patient’s experience strengthened. With the help from BC Cancer... Continue Reading BC Cancer Abbotsford Centre, BC Cancer Surrey Centre, Breast Cancer
My Career at the BC Cancer Agency By Dr. Frances Wong on Oct 10, 2013 It is extremely out of fashion to work at one place for one’s entire career life nowadays. But, I admit that I am old-fashioned. I have worked as part of the BC Cancer Agency’s medical staff since the 1980s and have worn multiple hats over these years. I have spent time treating patients with gynaecologic, breast and head & neck cancer. In 1993, Dr. Ed Kostashuk was recruited as the medical director to oversee and to plan the construction of the BC Cancer Agency’s new Fraser Valley Centre (FVC) in Surrey. When he approached me to apply for the position of radiation oncology department... Continue Reading BC Cancer Abbotsford Centre, BC Cancer Surrey Centre, Breast Cancer
Dr. Frances Wong: My Journey to a Career in Cancer Medicine By Dr. Frances Wong on Oct 04, 2013 One’s life journey is full of twists and turns. Very often, the path taken is influenced by decisions at critical points which become obvious only in hind sight. I was born in Hong Kong to a middle class family. We initially lived in a rural area and I went to a Chinese language primary school. It was at my brother’s insistence that I applied to an English language secondary school. This helped to prepare me for the Canadian system after my family immigrated to British Columbia at the end of my high school. I enrolled in the community college instead of entering UBC since it offered a year... Continue Reading Head & Neck Cancer, Radiation Oncology
