Angela Gibbons: Inspired by the difference early breast cancer detection makes for patients’ outcomes

Angela Gibbons, medical radiation technologist, ARH.

When Angela Gibbons was in her final years of high school deciding what to do next, it was her photography class that gave her inspiration.

“I was enjoying enriched photography – developing film, printing images – so medical radiation technology fit into was I was already doing,” said Angela, who is a medical radiation technologist in mammography, bone density and x-ray at Arnprior Regional Health (ARH).

“I have no regrets. I really love what I do.”

Passion for the Ontario Breast Screening Program

Angela shares that the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) is her gem. What impresses her about the program is how it removes barriers to regular breast screening by allowing patients to participate without a referral from a family physician.

“It makes us feel good when we catch something through screening and the patient gets early treatment,” said Angela. “We know that early detection can make a huge difference in their outcome.”

At ARH, patients who receive a screening mammography (through the OBSP) or a diagnostic mammography are followed by the team through their entire breast cancer journey.

“We have a really great program here,” explained Angela, who has worked as a medical radiation technologist for more than 25 years. “The patients are all booked in advance, screened and followed right to completion. So whether it’s a negative finding or the pathology comes back cancerous, we ensure the patients get the treatment they need in a reasonable amount of time—and if the process is being held up, we contact the physician to find out why.”

The team’s mission is to ensure that nothing gets missed.

“Angela has been a wonderful member of our team,” said Vicki Hallas, Manager, Diagnostic Imaging.  “She is responsible for one of our quality initiatives with the OBSP program to track and follow up on patients. With her attention to detail we have been able to achieve excellent results with the mammography quality management report.”

A team approach to the COVID-19 restart

In the first wave of COVID-19, Angela and the mammography team never stopped doing diagnostic mammography or any other urgent diagnostic imaging. Although the OBSP was on pause, they ensured there were no delays to the necessary mammograms and follow-up biopsies, if necessary.

Since the OBSP restarted in the summer, the team has come together to make headway catching up on the backlog from the spring.

“We are really lucky in this department—we have an absolutely great team across all modalities,” said Angela. “It is one of the best places I’ve ever worked, and I hope to work here until I retire.”

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Learn more about regular breast cancer screening and the importance of early detection here.