Dr. Pamela Goodwin

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian women. In 2007, an estimated 22,300 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 5,300 will die of it. Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Senior Investigator Dr. Pamela Goodwin focuses her research on lifestyle and related factors and their impact on breast cancer patient survival rates. As a clinician and Director of Mount Sinai Hospital's Marvelle Koffler Breast Centre, Dr. Goodwin shares her research insights with patients and provides support to improve the overall health of breast cancer survivors.

Dr. Goodwin is currently working on a number of projects related to lifestyle interventions and breast cancer results. In a recent study, Dr. Goodwin uncovered a link between vitamin D deficiency and poor prognosis of breast cancer. She found that found that deficiency in vitamin D is common in breast cancer patients and is associated with higher grade breast cancer tumours, increased risk of recurrence and lower overall survival rates than those patients with sufficient vitamin D levels.

Since 1989, Dr. Goodwin and her colleagues have studied newly-diagnosed breast cancer patients and found that obesity has a negative impact on breast cancer outcomes. Their conclusion, that the high insulin levels that arise from obesity encourage tumour growth and make breast cancer recurrence more likely, received international attention including coverage in the New York Times in 2000.

In 2001, Dr. Goodwin radically changed the way that cancer patient support groups are viewed by demonstrating that support oriented group therapy does not prolong the life of women with metastatic breast cancer, but that the groups can have beneficial psychological effects for some. Since that finding, she has created the "Taking Charge"™ support group program at the Marvelle Koffler Breast Cancer Centre to educate patients about healthier diet and physical activity choices that may decrease risk of recurrence.