At 83 years of age, few would argue that Dr. Vas Basrur isn’t deserving of retirement.
You will, however, have to forgive them for being skeptical.
It’s not the first time Basrur has decided to hang up his stethoscope.
Nor is it the second.
“This is the third time,” he says.
“I’ve already retired twice.”
For the past 10 years, Basrur has been a radiation oncologist at Grand River Hospital.
Before that, he spent more than 40 years at cancer care facilities in Hamilton, London and Toronto.
Over his lengthy career, he’s seen some significant changes in the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of cancer.
For example, developing a treatment plan for a patient with a tumour can now be done in just a few minutes, rather than the day-plus it took before the adoption of computers.
One of the biggest changes, he says, is in how patients react to a diagnosis.
“People are more aware of the options available for them, the treatments that are curative. That feeling of being frightened isn’t there,” he says.
Basrur calls Grand River Hospital “one of the best facilities” he’s seen. It’s even where his daughter, former Ontario chief medical officer Dr. Sheela Basrur, ended up being treated for a rare form of cancer.
“The medical oncologists who were looking after her and treating her were just amazing,” he says.
“She was given so much consideration and care.”
Basrur’s last day – if he doesn’t come out of retirement again – is Friday.
After that, he plans to spend lots of time travelling and golfing.
