TIC TOC
During the COVID-19 pandemic, cancer screening programs and elective surgeries were suspended in order to preserve healthcare resources. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women with over 12,000 patients affected in Ontario every year and robust provincial screening programs exist for average and highrisk patients. Data around the optimum timing of diagnosis and treatments are well established and provide a basis to gauge the impact of the pandemic on patient outcomes. Evidence generated from this study can be applied to optimize current breast cancer care and improve preparedness for future health emergencies.
Team
Dr. Tulin Cil
Principal Investigator
Dr. Toni Zhong
Co-Principal Investigator
Dr. Antoine Eskander
Co-Principal Investigator
Dr. Gary Ko
Project Director
Publications
Conferences
2026
The evolving landscape of axillary lymph node dissection in breast cancer: A population based study
2026 ASBrS Symposium
Seattle, WA, USA
Persistent inequities in access to immediate breast reconstruction following mastectomy for breast cancer: A population-based study in Ontario, Canada
2026 Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) Conference
Phoenix, AZ,USA
The evolving landscape of axillary lymph node dissection in breast cancer: A population based study
2026 Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) Conference
Phoenix, AZ,USA
2025
Virtual consultations for breast cancer patients in Ontario and the
impact on wait times and referral patterns: A population-based study
U of T General Surgery Annual Assembly
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Virtual consultations for breast cancer patients in Ontario and the impact on wait times and referral patterns: A population-based study
2025 Department of Surgery - Gallie Day
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Access to immediate breast reconstruction during breast cancer treatment: A population-based study
2025 ASBrS Symposium
Bellagio, Las Vegas, USA
Hospitalizations and emergency visits for Ontario breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy with pembrolizumab
2025 Canadian Society of Surgical Oncology (CSSO) Annual Meeting
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Hospitalizations and emergency visits for Ontario breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy with pembrolizumab
2025 Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) Conference
Tampa, FL, USA
2024
Hospitalizations and emergency visits for Ontario breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy with pembrolizumab
2024 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS)
San Antonio, TX , USA
Regional variation in breast cancer surgery during COVID-19: A Canadian population-based analysis
2024 European Society of Surgical Oncology (ESSO) Conference
Antwerp. Belgium
Implementing virtual surgical consultations in Ontario for breast cancer to reduce wait-times from diagnosis to surgical consultation.
2024 ACS Quality and Safety Conference
Denver, CO, USA
Contemporary trends in radiation protocols for breast cancer treatment: A population-based analysis
2024 ASTRO Annual Meeting
Washington, DC, USA
Virtual Consultations for Breast Cancer Surgery in Ontario: Reducing wait-times from Diagnosis to Surgical Consult
2024 ACS Quality and Safety Conference
Denver, CO, USA
The Impact Of COVID-19 on the Surgical Treatment Of Breast Cancer (TICTOC): A Population-based Analysis
2024 Canadian Society of Surgical Oncology (CSSO) Annual Meeting
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Delays in breast cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic: A population-based analysis
2024 Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) Conference
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Atlanta, Georgia, USA
2023
Delays in breast cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic: A population-based analysis
2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS)
San Antonio, TX , USA
Utilization of a rapid diagnostic centre during the COVID-19 pandemic reduced diagnostic delays in breast cancer
2023 Canadian Breast Cancer Symposium (CBCS)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The impact of COVID-19 on the surgical treatment of
breast cancer (TICTOC): A population-based analysis
2023 European Society of Surgical Oncology (ESSO) Conference
Florence, Italy
