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Patient and Physician Partner Against a Cruel Cancer

Diagnosed with inoperable small cell lung cancer, 72-year-old Martha was stunned by the words of her physician, Raja Mudad, MD, Director of the Thoracic Oncology Program at Memorial Cancer Institute.  

“While I was shocked by the diagnosis of lung cancer, I was even more shocked when Dr. Mudad said we could beat it!” says Martha. “Even at my age, he was prepared to treat me. He said it would be hard, but if I did as he said we could beat it together. He believed in me and I believed in Dr. Mudad and Memorial.”

The Lung Cancer Program at Memorial Cancer Institute brings together the medical specialties of thoracic surgery, medical and radiation oncology, pulmonary, pathology and radiology. A multidisciplinary team reviews each newly diagnosed case and works together to evaluate and determine treatment options. Clinical research options include the newest approaches to early- and late-stage disease presentation.

Immediately following her diagnosis, Martha began an aggressive treatment plan that included high-dose chemotherapy every three weeks with twice daily radiation therapy.  

Given Memorial's team approach to medicine, Dr. Mudad worked closely with Srinath Sundararaman, MD, MS, Medical Director of Radiation Oncology, to coordinate Martha's radiation treatment.

“At Memorial Cancer Institute, we take a multidisciplinary approach to treating our patients,” says Dr. Sundararaman. “The key to this is communication across the disciplines – between the radiation oncologist, medical oncologist, surgeon, nutritionist and chemotherapy nurses – the entire team works together.”

In Martha's case, her medical team followed the standard of care for her type of lung cancer, which included preventive treatment to reduce the risk of the cancer spreading to her brain. This approach is dependent upon the patient's condition and willingness to undergo further radiation therapy.

“In Martha's case, she received radiation to the brain electively when there was no cancer evident,” said Sundararaman. “With small cell lung cancer, the risk of the cancer spreading to the brain approaches 80 percent over time without radiation treatment.”

“Drs. Mudad and Sundararaman took every precaution including radiation to the brain to be sure we got it all,” says Martha. “We took an aggressive approach and while it was draining both physically and emotionally, we did it!”

After six months of following doctor's orders, Dr. Mudad declared them winners.

“The winning combination was the aggressive treatment along with Martha's aggressive attitude,” says Dr. Mudad. “Not only was she strong and determined, but she had great support from her family and the Memorial physicians and staff. Martha is truly a 'Memorial success story'.”

Feeling well and nearly three years in remission, Martha continues to express her gratitude to
Drs. Sundararaman, Mudad and her entire Memorial family.

“So many patients are told that advanced lung cancer is incurable, but Dr. Mudad believed in me and became my partner in fighting advanced lung cancer,” says Martha. “I call him Dr. Wonderful.”


 

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