Robert Rosenfeld
Robert Rosenfeld credits a dedicated team of physicians and care givers for the early detection of his lung cancer in May 2010.
From Dr. R. Patel at the DeKalb Clinic, to Dr. SW Chang, a Sycamore pulmonologist, to Dr. Sabet Siddiqui and Dr. Amit Bhate at Kishwaukee Community Hospital’s Cancer Center, and Dr. Robert B. Love at Loyola University Medical Center, Rosenfeld said everyone worked together to ensure coordinated treatment for the best possible outcome.
Dr. Siddiqui, medical oncology/hematology physician at The Cancer Center at Kishwaukee Community Hospital, said that although caught early, Rosenfeld’s case was complex. As it turned out he had two types of lung cancer at the same time.
“His PET scan showed that the tumor appeared to be small, but it was in the middle of his left lung. Our partnership with Loyola turned out to be very beneficial in this case because the tumor extended closer to the bronchial tubes than the scan showed,” said Dr. Siddiqui.
“Dr. Love is a specialist in heart and lung surgery. He basically did a reconstruction of his lung, almost like plastic surgery, using Mr. Rosenfeld’s pericardial vascular flap from his heart and reconstructing the airway to allow one lobe of the lung to be preserved.
“In most cases, a patient would have his entire lung removed, but Dr. Love was able to save Mr. Rosenfeld from a mega-surgery that would have meant he would have been on oxygen the rest of his life and a higher morbidity rate,” he said.
Dr. Siddiqui said the partnership between The Cancer Center at Kish and Loyola is “phenomenal, and this case is an excellent example of why.”
Dr. Love agreed, explaining that Loyola is pioneering many life-saving treatment options not available elsewhere.
“We are doing minimally invasive surgeries and using robotics for lobectomies when possible. Lung cancer is a real complicated disease to treat. Where patients receive their first treatment often makes a difference in their outcome because deciding on a plan of therapy is critical,” he said.
The collaboration between Loyola and The Kishwaukee Community Hospital Cancer Center allows patients the best treatment options available in both health systems, he said.
The Loyola Connection
Drs. Siddiqui and Bhate said the collaboration with Loyola is a huge benefit to local cancer patients and includes the availability of clinical trials at the Kish Cancer Center without having to travel into the city.
“The collaboration aids in open communication among all of the physicians and specialties involved to provide the best care available for our patients. The doctors at the cancer center have access to their patients’ charts at Loyola electronically so there is no delay in getting crucial information. Essentially, the patients are receiving university type care close to home,” Dr. Bhate said.
”Local doctors also can log-on to the Loyola system and track an individual patient’s treatment and progress. That type of communication is key to patient well-being and outcome,” he added.
Dr. Siddiqui said, “Throughout Mr. Rosenfeld’s treatment, Dr. Love was texting us or keeping in contact with us,” he said.
His Treatment Plan
Following surgery at Loyola, Robert’s treatment regimen at The Cancer Center at Kishwaukee Community Hospital included 10 chemotherapy sessions under Dr. Siddiqui’s guidance. “There have been extensive studies about what type and how long chemotherapy treatments are effective in treating lung cancer like Mr. Rosenfeld’s,” Dr. Siddiqui said.
His 33 radiation treatments, under the direction of Dr. Bhate, were given five times a week simultaneously with the chemo at the DeKalb cancer center.
“Radiation is a highly precise advanced form of cancer therapy, consisting of a radiation beam pointed to areas of concern that may harbor cancer cells and kills them. The field of radiation has advanced so it is possible to deliver high doses of radiation while minimizing radiation to normal tissues. This allows the greatest chance for cure of the cancer, as well as minimizes the chance for side effects. Radiation plans are now individually designed based on a patient’s anatomy, and in Mr. Rosenfeld’s case, based on his PET/CT scan,” said Dr. Bhate.
Robert’s treatments ended in June 2011, and he said he is feeling stronger every day. He lost about 25 pounds as a result of his illness, but has gained some of that back.
“I will have regular check-ups with my local doctors for five years, and they will share reports with my doctor at Loyola. In October, I will have a PET scan at the Kish Cancer Center, and I will continue to receive follow-up care there.”
If you’re a smoker, don’t ignore warning signs.
A smoker for 45 years, Rosenfeld now tells anyone who asks “do not smoke!” He said he was lucky because a routine blood test during his annual check-up detected an abnormality in his blood count.
“Then, I coughed up a little blood one day and I followed up with Dr. Patel in internal medicine at DeKalb Clinic. He ran a battery of tests and referred me to Dr. Chang who did a bronchoscopy, and that’s when I was diagnosed,” said Rosenfeld, 78, of Sycamore.
Dr. Patel said Rosenfeld’s case is an excellent example for other smokers. “If you cough up blood, do not ignore it. Mr. Rosenfeld had a chronic cough, but the first time he coughed up blood, he came to see me. It is important for patients to know their bodies and to act when something is not right,” he said.
Quitting is not easy. But there’s help.
Robert realizes cigarette smoking creates a strong addiction, urging people to take classes, talk to their doctors and join support groups to kick the habit.
“Even after everything I’ve been through, it’s not so much the nicotine addiction that affects me, it’s the habits – the routines you get used to. Like smoking when I paid our bills or worked on the computer, for example. It’s tough to break those habits,” he said.
All of the doctors echoed Robert’s sentiments about smoking, explaining that there are new medicines available by prescription to help smokers quit and a variety of support systems for smoking cessation.
While most lung cancer he treats is due to smoking, Dr. Love said about 20 percent of his patients are the victims of second-hand smoke, so avoiding that is important, as well.
They all agree. “Do anything and everything you can to quit, both for yourself and the people you love. There is no good way to reverse the damage caused by smoking, but you are way ahead the sooner you quit.
The Kishwaukee Community Hospital Community Wellness Department offers Quit Smoking classes throughout the year. To find out about the next class, call 815.748.8962.
