Entries Tagged as Cancer
Chemo Kid’s Dream Comes True
On Dec. 4, Giovanni “Gino” Goodman found himself huddled with his father and best friend amid the bedlam of Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Ore., watching his beloved University of Oregon Ducks crush their rival Oregon State Beavers, 37–20.
Couple Faces Pancreatic Cancer
Strong Marriage, Solid Resources Keep Them Focused
Cancer Center Nurse Louise Henry, R.N., gives Madeleiene a drink while her son, Julian Falley, looks on.
In May 2009, Madeleiene Burroughs of Fairfield had a monthlong stomach ache. That summer, thanks to the insistence of her husband, George Falley, she sought medical help and was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the same cancer that took the life of actor Patrick Swayze much too soon.
“Doctors kept telling her to ‘go home and take an aspirin,’” says George. “Finally I got mad and stood up for my wife. We were in the ER and I said we weren’t leaving until we knew what was causing her pain.”
An MRI provided the answer just a few days later. A biopsy at UCSF Medical Center confirmed the diagnosis and the couple was referred to oncologist Brian Vikstrom, M.D., at the NorthBay Cancer Center. Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive form of cancer that forms in the tissues of the pancreas. Located in the lower abdomen behind the stomach, the pancreas aids in digestion.
While it was a diagnosis no one wanted to hear, the couple had the strength of their 40-year marriage to help Madeleiene tackle the disease. George took family leave from his job with San Francisco City Hall’s custodial department to spend months at his wife’s side.
“I cared for my grandmother and mother, so I’m well prepared to care for my wife,” says George. “The most important part of keeping Madeleiene comfortable is pain management, and I’ve become an expert at scheduling her drugs.”
Now back at work, George sets out his wife’s medications each morning before beginning his commute to the city. He is always available if she needs him.
“George and Madeleiene are both inspirations,” says Janet Black, R.N., clinical manager of medical oncology. “Madeleiene is so positive and George is totally dedicated to her care.”
Still, the couple knows future plans are made by the day, not the year. “I told Dr. Vikstrom to always tell us the truth,” George says. “We’ll cry a little and then move on, but we always want the truth. He’s been very honest with us.”
Genetics Key in Battle Against Cancer
It may sound like something from a sci-fi thriller, but don't be fooled: Gene profiling is real, and could be a powerful weapon in the war against cancer. "There have been many significant advances in recent years in the area of cancer genetics," says Brian Vikstrom, M.D., an oncologist/hematologist with NorthBay Cancer Center.
"We have a better understanding of how cancers develop and how to affect their growth. And new technologies are being used to develop drugs that more effectively target cancer cells."
The NorthBay Cancer Center team, which includes James Long, M.D., Florian Ploch, M.D., and Dr. Vikstrom, are making the most of these advanced treatments, and are offering them to their patients.
Gene profiling of tumors has become much more common, especially during the past few years, Dr. Vikstrom notes. Researchers have begun to unravel the mysteries of the genetic make-up of cancer cells and are gaining a better understanding of why these cells behave the way they do. They have discovered new proteins and chemical substances that are either produced by cancer cells or affect the growth and development of cancer cells. These new discoveries have shed light on how these genetic differences may make a particular cancer either more sensitive to or resistant to certain drug therapies. Tumor-specific genetics may be able to reveal which treatments, such as chemotherapy or hormone therapy, would be of most benefit to the patient. This would spare the patient from the side effects of a treatment that is less likely to help treat their disease.
Several of the new cancer drugs, currently available or in development, are able to block some of the mutations and pathways that cause tumor cells to grow.
The cellular processes exposed by research have resulted in an increase in the development of drugs that "target" a variety of proteins that have been shown to increase cancer cell growth. Several of these new cancer drugs, currently available or in development, are able to block some of the mutations and pathways that cause tumor cells to grow. By using these agents, oncologists may be able to slow or arrest the growth of malignant cells, sometimes without having to use traditional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation.
"If there is a drug that can put a cog in the wheel to stop it from clicking, we can stop the cancer from growing," Dr. Vikstrom says. "For some cancers, such as renal cancer, we did not have any good treatments, no home runs; now we have something with these new targeted drugs."
Today, when it comes to treating cancer, the treatment will likely be as unique and as individualized as the cancer—and the patient. For breast cancer alone, there are more than a dozen treatment regimens, and therapy has expanded to include new classes of drugs, Dr. Vikstrom notes.
Another area of promise for cancer patients lies within clinical trials. There are hundreds of clinical trials under way, exploring new ways to treat cancers. The trials may involve new anti-cancer drugs, doses and treatment schedules, as well as drug combinations and hormonal therapy. Some trials compare a new treatment against a standard treatment, while others introduce new drugs that haven't been used before. Several NorthBay Cancer Center patients are participating in clinical trials and the team is always on the lookout for the right patient or right trial.
"We're doing better, patients are living longer or are being cured," says Dr. Vikstrom.
Clinical Trials Allow Patients Access to New Treatments
Sometimes there are silver linings in stormy clouds.
In early 2007, Etsuko Bennett was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer—a gastrointestinal stromal tumor, or GIST—that caused a tumor to grow in her small intestine. "GIST doesn't normally respond to traditional treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation," explains her husband, George. And, even if a GIST is surgically removed, "with this kind of cancer you can almost always count on it coming back."
But, Etsuko had two things going for her. Because surgeons were able to completely remove her tumor, and because cancer had not been found anywhere else, she became eligible to participate in a clinical trial through the NorthBay Cancer Center that gave her access to a life-lengthening medicine.
The medicine—Gleevec—targets specific proteins within cancer cells and stops the cancer from growing. It is an approved drug for the treatment of certain leukemias and, in this setting, for some specific GISTs.
"Keni Horiuchi (oncology nurse specialist at the NorthBay Cancer Center) knew about the trial and told us about it. Etsuko was one of the last to make it in before the trial closed."
As part of the clinical trial, Etsuko would take Gleevec for one year—with a nine-year follow-up—to see if it prevented any other tumors from growing. In her case, it did.
But, in early 2009, a year after ending the Gleevec trial, Etsuko again developed small lesions on her liver, George explains, and the NorthBay Cancer Center team referred the Bennetts to the Stanford Liver Center. The physicians who specialize in GIST there put her into another clinical trial to compare a new targeted therapy drug—Tasigna—to Gleevec. "This new drug is an improved version of Gleevec. After three months we did see the larger tumor had shrunk," George says. And, if the tumor continues to shrink it may be removed.
"It has been an up and down battle," he adds. "We're hopeful the new drug will make her tumors smaller. Targeted therapies such as these are wonderful, miracle drugs." The couple is grateful for all the advances in targeted therapies, he says, "because for us, there was nothing else out there."
What’s Cooking?
Cancer Center Hopes Book Will Raise Funds for Patient Care
Not all insurance is created equal, Janet Black, clinical coordinator for NorthBay Cancer Center, has learned.
One patient capped out of insurance after only one chemotherapy treatment. “What good is that?” asks Black, shaking her head.
There are some funds available to help NorthBay patients, but many come with limitations or requirements. So Black and her colleagues at the Cancer Center decided to cook up a plan to help patients in need.
The result is the Cancer Center’s first-ever “Food for Life” cookbook, which can now be ordered online.
About 100 recipes are featured, submitted by patients, caregivers and staff. Recipes include main meals, side dishes, appetizers and desserts.
Anyone who wants to support the cancer center patients by purchasing a book can visit www.blurb.com. The cost is $30 plus shipping and handling for a soft cover. Hard covers are available at additional cost.
All recipes have been tested by the Cancer Center staff, says Black. “We may have to gain a lot of weight, but the recipes will be good, guaranteed.”
Some patients have even brought samples by the office, which have been dutifully photographed by Bea Castro, infusion charge specialist.
The cookbook was actually the idea of Becca Weitzel, medical social worker, and while Janet accepted the editing challenge, she had a lot of help, especially with typing from Johanna Martinez, clinic support specialist.
The cover is a photograph by Bea featuring many ribbons representing the colors of various cancers, explained Janet, and inside the book is information about the various cancers, and inspirational quotes that also appear on the quilt about what cancer cannot do:
It cannot cripple LOVE,
It cannot destroy PEACE
It cannot kill FRIENDSHIP
It cannot destroy CONFIDENCE
It cannot invade the SOUL
It cannot conquer the SPIRIT.
New Director for Cancer Center
Steve Ferris joined NorthBay Health-care this summer as director of NorthBay Cancer Center and Oncology Service Line. Prior to coming to NorthBay Healthcare, Ferris worked for Aptium Oncology, Inc., as executive director for Alta Bates Comprehensive Cancer Center in Berkeley.
Ferris, who has a master’s degree in healthcare administration from the University of South Florida, brings with him an extensive background in cancer center operations, program expansion, business development and equipment and technology acquisition. In addition he has had significant experience in revenue cycle management and acute care and clinic operations.
Ferris will oversee the operations of NorthBay’s Cancer Center, which includes medical oncology, the infusion center, clinical trials, tumor registry and radiation oncology.
A Changing Arsenal
Today, when it comes to treating cancer with drug therapy, the treatments are as unique as the cancer patient themselves, with more positive outcomes than ever before.
A Shocking Diagnosis for a Man
Once Kenneth Taylor got past the shock of learning he had breast cancer—and his immediate worries that "this was the end of the line for me"—he got angry. He wasn't angry because he had been diagnosed with a rare disease for men. "I have no problem with the fact that I have breast cancer," he says. "I was angry with myself because I wish I had been more proactive."
A One-in-a-Million Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Cynthia Savage, 53, of Vacaville, had less than a 1 percent chance of getting breast cancer. She was fit, healthy and had no family history of the disease. Yet in 2005, she was diagnosed with one of the rarest forms of breast cancer—Paget's Disease of the Breast.
She Knows the Value of Mammograms
Judi Kitt never again will miss her yearly mammogram appointment. Life got a little busy for Judi back in 2001, and the date for her appointment passed. This was unusual for her, as she had been getting mammograms every year since her 40th birthday. "I was just really, really busy then and I forgot," she says.
Mastectomy Was Her Decision
Magnolia "Jackie" Parrish, of Vacaville, was raised to be an independent thinker.
As one of 10 children growing up on an Arkansas farm, she was taught how to cook and sew and take care of the house by her mother, and learned to hunt, fish and chop wood with her father.
