Healthy Living Newsletter
What do “Survival Rates” Mean for You?
For beating cancer close to home, “The best just
got better!”
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| Donna Schwartz of Port Huron at
home practicing her trombone, is a 17-year breast cancer
survivor who received her care and treatment through
the Mercy Regional Cancer Center. Mercy reports five-year
cancer survival statistics that surpass national rates
as provided through the National Cancer Data Base. What
does that mean? For Donna, it means, “I can receive
outstanding cancer care close to home.” |
The life that Donna Schwartz of Port Huron had planned
was right on track in 1988. Then at age 49, she was recently
remarried and enjoyed an active administrative career. Her
life was moving in the right direction, until she found
a lump in her breast while performing a self-breast exam.
“My sister had breast cancer,” explains Donna,
“so I was faithful about receiving mammograms and
performing self-breast exams. My breast tissue was extremely
dense, and through self-exams, I knew every lump, every
contour. That’s when I found a lump that worried me.”
No one word a doctor can utter has a more profound affect
on a patient than the word “cancer”. Donna went
straight to her physician and her worst fear was confirmed,
she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
With a new challenge at hand, she and her physicians developed
a course of action to treat the cancer, take careful steps
to avoid recurrence and reconstruct her breasts. She did
this all through the care of her local physicians/surgeons
and her trust in the Mercy Regional Cancer Center.
Donna’s course of action included receiving a mastectomy
of the breast diagnosed with cancer. She then participated
in chemotherapy treatments, through Blue Water Oncology,
PC, designed to prevent recurrence.
“I think my proactive chemotherapy treatment was
a precursor to some of the preventative medications available
today for women with a high risk of breast cancer,”
explains Donna. “I was determined not to be diagnosed
with breast cancer again.”
Although chemotherapy treatments proceeded well, Donna
felt with the density of her breast tissue, the threat of
recurrence was constantly looming, and she remained concerned.
“I spent a lot of time discussing my options with
my husband, and my cancer doctors,” says Donna. “In
the end, based on my breast physiology, we decided to remove
my other breast and ensure I wouldn’t be diagnosed
again with this type of cancer.”
Today, Donna is celebrating 17 years of breast cancer survival.
At age 66, she is retired with husband David, and speaks
openly about the need for breast cancer screenings, including
self-breast exams.
Donna takes her experience with breast cancer very seriously.
“I think it’s extremely important that everyone
pay attention to cancer prevention and the screening services
available,” Donna stresses. “Although we can’t
be consumed by the threat of cancer, there are many services
available right in our community to help in prevention,
early diagnosis, and treatment.”
Donna isn’t alone in her trust of local cancer care
services. Named best in cancer care by the Commission on
Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons, Mercy
Regional Cancer Center’s five-year survival rates
surpass national rates utilizing the National Cancer Data
Base (NCDB) statistics for colon, prostate, lung and breast
cancers; ensuring others receive outstanding care.
Mercy provides a complex and comprehensive array of cancer
services from prevention and screening, to diagnosis and
treatment.
Through its recently published Cancer Care Annual Report,
Mercy reports that not only does it diagnose breast cancer
at an earlier stage than the national rates for both stage
0 and stage I breast cancers (based on NCDB statistics),
but its five-year survival data for all stages of breast
cancer diagnosis beat the national statistics.
“This is great news for women in our community,”
comments Krishna Valjee, MD, Co-Chair of the Mercy Cancer
Committee and a local surgeon who regularly performs breast
cancer surgery. “It means the best just got better,
and the community can turn to Mercy as an area leader in
cancer care.”
“Coming on the heels of Mercy’s recertification
by the CoC, this survival data offers a more indepth look
at the services offered through Mercy,” comments Kanu
Dalal, MD, Co-Chair of the Mercy Cancer Committee and radiation
oncologist. “This is the exact data the CoC utilizes
when determining recertification of community cancer programs.
It stress again what I’ve stated before, Mercy shares
the leadership distinction of being a CoC certified program
with other oncology programs including Karmanos Cancer Institute,
Henry Ford Health System Michigan State and the University
of Michigan programs, and even the nationally renowned Mayo
Clinic.”
What do cancer survival statistics mean to the community?
“It means I can receive outstanding cancer care close
to home if cancer ever returns,” says Donna.
Donna, whose sister was eventually taken by multiple cancers,
remains vigilant about prevention and screening. “David
and I eat right, we exercise, we use sunscreen, and we maintain
a regular course of cancer screenings,” concludes
Donna. “Our health is very important to us, so we
actively plan to be well.”
To obtain a FREE copy of the Mercy Regional Cancer Center
Annual report as well as the latest screening guidelines
for breast, colorectal and prostate cancers, please call
(810) 985-1603.
Mercy Plans Expansion of Cancer Treatment Services
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| Mercy was recently named best in cancer care by the
Commission on Cancer. |
An important advancement will soon be available in the
community for the radiation treatment of cancer tumors.
Mercy Hospital Foundation has announced a capital fund raising
campaign to provide even more-advanced cancer care services
close to home.
Capital funds are needed to offer Intensity Modulated Radiation
Therapy (IMRT) through the expansive Mercy Radiation Oncology
Department.
“This capital campaign is designed to acquire the
additional funding necessary to purchase a state-of-the-art
software system,” explains Homeira McDonald, MD, Mercy
Hospital Foundation Chair. “Mercy is doing its part,
too. It has already secured federal funding and received
a financial pledge from the Mercy Medical Staff to help
finance the advancements.”
Mercy is the only cancer program to offer radiation therapy
services locally. In 2002, Mercy unveiled its newest linear
accelerator, the SmartBeam Linear Accelerator. Advancing
the capabilities of this radiation equipment will offer
exact pinpoint accuracy to contour radiation dosage around
the targeted cancer tumor, destroying the cancer while minimizing
potential side effects for patients.
“Whether you are a cancer survivor, caregiver, family
member or friend, cancer can have a powerful and often life-changing
affect on you,” concludes Dr. McDonald. “For
those looking for an opportunity to help other courageous
people touched by cancer, I invite you to learn more about
this important Mercy Regional Cancer Center advancement.”
For more information and giving opportunities, please call
Sondra Briese, Mercy Hospital Foundation at (810) 987-1047.
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