Patient Success Stories
Oral Cancer Survivor Credits Speedy Access to Care, Expert Team and Caring Staff with His Successful Treatment
John Stebbing
John Stebbing knows he is one of the lucky ones. His cancer was caught at an early stage, which gives him the best chance for long-term survival. He also feels fortunate to have found his way to some of the best cancer specialists in the country to treat his disease at the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center.
But things might have turned out differently for the 56-year-old sign installation manager from Churchton, Maryland.
Stebbing noticed a small lump on the side of his neck back in August, 2007, but didn’t pay much attention to it. As a life-long, heavy smoker, he had often dealt with swollen glands and sore throats and didn’t think too much of it. But when a co-worker saw the swelling, he strongly encouraged Stebbing to see a doctor. "He told me that I should definitely have it checked because it could be cancer," he says. Fortunately, Stebbing took his friend’s advice.
His internist examined him and recommended that he see an ear, nose and throat specialist, who treated him with two courses of antibiotics. When that didn’t help, a PET scan was ordered. By October, Stebbing had the results of the scan. It showed that he definitely had cancer, although the exact type and extent of his disease was still uncertain.
Fortunately for Stebbing, his boss knew about the expertise at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center, and helped arrange for him to be seen right away. “He told me that the University of Maryland was the only place to be if you were diagnosed with cancer, that it was the top place in the area for the latest and greatest in cancer treatment,” he recalls.
Stebbing got an appointment that same week to see Duane Sewell, M.D., a surgical oncologist and member of the Head and Neck Oncology Program at UMGCC. Dr. Sewell performed a biopsy of Stebbing’s tonsil and lymph nodes. When the pathology results confirmed a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil, Dr. Sewell was able to remove the cancerous tissue while Stebbing was still under anesthesia. By operating from inside of Stebbing’s mouth, Dr. Sewell was able to remove the tumor without the need for a major neck dissection. "When I woke up, he told me 'I think I got it all,' I was delighted not to have needed the more involved surgery," says Stebbing.
The members of the Head and Neck Oncology Program team met to review his case and plan how best to treat Stebbing’s cancer, recommending a combination of radiation and chemotherapy following his surgery. They met with both Stebbing and his wife to review the plan and explain what the couple could expect over the coming months.
Mohan Suntha, M.D., vice-chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology and an expert in head and neck cancer, developed a treatment plan using the Trilogy stereotactic radiotherapy system, the latest technology in radiation therapy for battling cancer. The Trilogy technology would allow Dr. Suntha to deliver extremely powerful and precise doses of radiation to Stebbing’s neck in order to kill tumor cells without harming his salivary glands or other nearby tissues.
Stebbing began the course of 35 treatments, driving to Baltimore with his wife, Kim, from their home south of Annapolis each weekday for six weeks. The couple formed close relationships with the cancer center staff over the course of those weeks.
"Dr. Suntha and his team are amazing. Everyone was always so positive and encouraging. They can see when you’re feeling down, and they have a way of lifting you up. The staff in Radiation Oncology feels like our extended family now," Stebbing notes.
Along with his radiation therapy, Stebbing’s treatment plan called for chemotherapy to attack any cancer cells that might be circulating elsewhere in his body. For that, he was under the care of Kevin Cullen. M.D., director of the University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center and a medical oncologist who specializes in head and neck cancer. Dr. Cullen recommended three chemotherapy treatments, spaced several weeks apart, to be given concurrent with the radiation therapy. For this part of his treatment, Stebbing went to the sunny infusion area of the Stoler Pavilion, the cancer center’s state-of-the-art outpatient facility.
"I lost about 30 pounds, between the chemotherapy and from not being able to swallow much for a while because of the soreness in my throat," he says. His wife kept a detailed diary of all her husband’s symptoms, medications, readings and food intake. "She took great care of me. She was my rock through this whole process," he says.
On a recent follow-up visit to the Stoler Pavilion, Stebbing was feeling good and noted that he had gained back almost all the weight he had lost. He was looking forward to celebrating his 57th birthday and his fifth wedding anniversary, which both fall on the same date in April. And, he was anxious to return to his job at Triangle Sign Company, where a large group of co-workers and friends has been rooting for him during the past six months.
One thing he won’t be returning to, however, is his cigarette habit. "I tried to stop many times over the years, but this time, it’s for good. I know I was lucky, but I tell my kids: 'Look what happened to me. You have my genes, so don’t smoke!'"
On April 23, 2008, John Stebbing sent the following e-mail update to his friends
at the cancer center:
"I had my PET scan done yesterday at 7:00 am, and returned to work
at Triangle Sign & Service at 10:00 am. (Couldn't wait to get back to normal.)
Dr. Suntha called me at about 11:00 am today and told me that my scan showed
no signs of cancer! I have been given my life back, in large part due to the
grace of God and the expertise of the wonderful and skilled doctors and staff
at the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center.
It's true that, if you are diagnosed with cancer, this is the top place to be."
For more information on the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum
Cancer Center’s Head and Neck Oncology Program, or any of our programs
or services, please call 1-800-888-8823.
If you have a story to share about your successful treatment for cancer at UMGCC, please contact the Web site editor at 410-328-8289.
This page was last updated on: December 22, 2008.
|
Email this Page
Print this Page
