There are few words more terrifying than “you have cancer.” These three small words carry a world of questions, uncertainty and fear, instantly challenging everything you thought you knew about your body, your health and your future.
Randy Shoemaker first heard those words eight years ago, when his wife was diagnosed. Unfortunately, he lost his wife to metastatic cancer shortly after her diagnosis. Last year, he heard them again. This time, he was the patient.
“When they first told me, I was shocked of course, but then the fear set in,” Randy said. “I kept thinking about my wife and how she went through it.”
During a routine checkup, Randy’s cardiologist diagnosed him with aortic stenosis, or a narrowing or blockage of his aortic valve. Randy needed a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). To identify the correct size for the valve, he had a CT scan of his chest and abdomen.
“Randy’s CT scan identified a lung nodule leading to an unexpected diagnosis of lung cancer,” said Zafir Hawa, MD, FACC, FSCAI, a cardiologist with Meritas Health Cardiology. “Randy had no risk factors for lung cancer. If it were not for his aortic stenosis, he would have never received a CT scan of the lungs, and his cancer would have never been identified.”
To remove the nodule, his cancer care team recommended either surgery or radiation therapy.
“My care team was very professional, and I appreciated their honesty,” Randy said. “I felt in my heart that radiation was the best path considering how close the nodule was to my esophagus.”
After his diagnosis, Randy was promptly connected with a nurse navigator. No matter where a patient is on their cancer journey, a nurse navigator provides support, guidance and comfort during treatment. These dedicated professionals serve as a bridge between patients and the medical team, while connecting them to vital financial, emotional and social support resources.
“Randy’s case was complicated and required input from many specialties. These include cardiology, pulmonology and radiation oncology, due to his multiple conditions,” said John Park, MD, a radiation oncologist at NKCH Cancer Center. “We had a team of doctors working together to coordinate the best sequencing for Randy’s treatment. I believe Randy’s case can give our patients confidence in the coordination of care they’ll receive here.”
Just one week after his diagnosis, Randy embarked on an intensive treatment plan, which included 35 sessions of radiation over two months. He completed his radiation treatments in December and rang the victory bell, a symbol of resilience and triumph over cancer. He celebrated his recovery and the start of a new year with a new lease on life.
Last fall, NKCH and MH launched an independent expanded cancer care program offering comprehensive medical, surgical, infusion and radiation oncology services.
The center’s goal is to see a patient in an appointment within 72 business hours after a diagnosis. “This is our vision. If you get a cancer diagnosis, let’s pull our resources together to start treatment as quickly as possible,” said Derick Miranda, service line administrator at NKCH Cancer Center.
“A cancer diagnosis can be really scary, but I had a lot of people in my corner who got things moving quickly,” Randy said. “Their support gave me confidence and allowed me to focus more on my treatment and healing.”
To learn more about NKCH cancer services, call 816.691.2880 or visit nkch.org/CancerCare.
Radiation Oncology
Our specialists-including physicists, dosimetrists and radiation therapists, and use advanced technology to deliver highly accurate treatments. The team will help determine which approach may benefit you the most. More targeted approaches can treat cancer cells while preserving surrounding tissues and shortening treatment and recovery time.
We use a team-based approach, giving you the knowledge and experience to provide quality, professional and compassionate care. Our clinic is equipped with innovative radiation therapy technology, including:
- Stereotactic radiosurgery
- Stereotactic body radiation therapy
- Volumetric modulated arc therapy
- Intensity-modulated radiation therapy
- 3D conformal radiation therapy
- Electron therapy Radiation Oncology