Healthy Living Newsletter
Diagnosed with Cancer?
Make an Informed Choice
Mercy’s Five Year Cancer Survival Rates
Come as Welcome News to Regional Cancer Patients
With a prostate cancer diagnosis
in hand, Donald Grimes of Harbor Beach had a choice to
make. “I could go
west to receive my radiation therapy,” comments 74-year-old
Donald, “or I could go south to Mercy Hospital in
Port Huron. For me, after some research, the choice was
simple, go to the best, go to Mercy.”
A retired pharmacist and healthcare quality assurance administrator
in the Detroit area, Donald and his wife Norma of 51
years retired to Harbor Beach. In their home, situated
off the historical White Rock marker on Lake Huron, Donald
made numerous phone calls when his primary care physician
and urologist informed him of his cancer diagnosis.
“I called a number of colleagues from the Detroit
area to learn all I could about prostate cancer treatment
options,” explained Donald. “I compared
hospitals and made an informed decision. Mercy offered everything I wanted.”
 |
| Donald Grimes, of Harbor Beach, a three-year
prostate cancer survivor was pleased to learn Mercy
Regional Cancer Center surpasses survival rates based
on comparisons to the National Cancer Data Base. “It
means I was correct in choosing Mercy Hospital for
my cancer care,” says Donald. “Here I am!
With Mercy’s help, I beat cancer.” |
Donald is not unlike hundreds of men in the area faced
with a prostate cancer diagnosis. The American Cancer
Society reports that prostate cancer is the second leading
cause of cancer death in men. Michigan alone can expect
7,650 new cases to be diagnosed this year.
To treat his cancer, Donald received radiation therapy
through the expertise of Radiation Oncologist Kanu Dalal,
MD, at the Mercy Regional Cancer Center.
“Mercy has the most sophisticated equipment available,” say Donald. “Their
radiation therapy machine allows the treatment to come in at six different angles.
Not two or four like some other area treatment facilities. I knew that meant
it was the best chance of the radiation only going to the cancer cells, not the
good cells in my body. That was important for my health and success in treating
my cancer.”
Although Donald received radiation therapy treatment two
years ago, he maintains six-month checkups with Dr. Dalal
at Mercy to ensure his cancer remains in remission. “I can’t say I’m cured,” says Donald, “but
my cancer is in total arrest, and I’ll continue to see Dr. Dalal for
regular checkups until he releases me.”
Personal care and a commitment to high-quality service
is one of the hallmarks of the Mercy Regional Cancer
Center. That’s why it was recently named
best in cancer care by the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College
of Surgeons. Every three years Mercy goes through an extensive review process
by the CoC to maintain this important cancer care certification.
Mercy provides a complex and comprehensive array of cancer
services from prevention and screening, to diagnosis
and treatment.
 Medical oncologists, hematologists and other specialists
on staff at Mercy provide patients with the newest treatments
and drug therapies.
Patients can also access Clinical Research Trials through
the Mercy Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Mercy’s affiliation with Blue Water Oncology,
PC.
Mercy Hospital’s affiliated surgeons provide many advances in cancer
surgery.
In addition to its recent CoC recertification, Mercy reports
it surpasses survival rates for those diagnosed with
prostate, lung, colorectal and breast cancers when compared
to the National Cancer Data Base statistics.
That wasn’t surprising news to Donald. “It doesn’t surprise
me that Mercy surpasses the national survival rates,” explains Donald. “You
can tell you’re in competent hands when you walk in the door.
“There is nothing worse than being very sick and very worried,” continues
Donald. “The professionals at Mercy were incredibly sensitive to me when
I started receiving my treatment. They personally walk you to and from your treatment
room. It’s a really good feeling to be treated this way. They’ve
thought of and covered all the little things that are important to cancer patients.
“Sometimes people think bigger is better, but it’s not; and Mercy
is a great example of that,” says Donald. “I personally don’t
think you could receive better care or more state-of-the-art services than you
can through Mercy. You’re treated personally. You’re known personally.
You feel very important to those who are providing your care and — as a
cancer patient — that was very important to me.”
For others facing a diagnosis of cancer, Donald recommends
they do their research to find a treatment program that’s right for them. “I think it’s
important not only for retired healthcare professionals such as myself, but
for everyone to find out as much as they can about their cancer treatment options.
Talk to other cancer survivors, research on the internet; find a program that
you have confidence in. For me the choice was Mercy. Here I am, I beat cancer.”
To receive a FREE copy of the Mercy
Regional Cancer Center Annual Report as well as the latest
screening guidelines for prostate, colorectal and breast
cancers, please call
(810) 985-1603. |
