Dr Olga Oikonomidou 2022-03-30 Person 5 5 0

Olga has looked after me since my breast cancer diagnosis in August 2018 and I have felt throughout that time that I have been in very safe hands. I had concerns about the impact of chemo on my plans to have a family and Olga ensured that I was given access to fertility preservation at EFREC pre chemo and also took the time to liaise with the fertility head, Dr Thong at EFREC to offer a chemotherapy regime that would be as kind as possible to me from a fertility perspective. I was also given Zoladex during chemo to protect my ovaries. Since finishing active treatment in November 2019 Olga has remained in contact and arranged regular mammograms, MRIs, consultations and check ups – even throughout the early days of lockdown – which has been hugely appreciated and reassuring. I have Olga's email address and she has been very good at picking up emails and addressing any concerns or queries directly – usually with the offer of a follow up meeting (in person or now via Zoom if appropriate). I know that Olga is very busy and hugely appreciate her time. It is also excellent to have a direct email for her - as a comparison my experience of the assisted fertility unit at EFREC is the opposite and I find the lack of a direct dial and email address for them very impersonal, unhelpful – and at times – the cause of frustration and stress – especially when I had to pay £5,000 to do fertility preservation pre chemo. Olga has gone above and beyond her oncology role in offering up her time and knowledge in assisting us with our fertility journey over the last 1.5 years – including opening up the option of fertility advice and treatment in Greece if required. Olga has been very supportive in guiding us through this and was supportive of me stopping my medication to allow us to (hopefully) have a family. In conclusion, Id like to thank Olga for saving my life and recently for being a huge support on our fertility journey.