In May 2019, John, 79, was hospitalized for a pancreatitis attack. During his treatment, doctors discovered a mass in his liver and lymph nodes nearby, which led to further testing and an eventual diagnosis of stage four melanoma. However, this wasn’t his first experience with melanoma. A year prior John underwent a skin graft and began seeing his dermatologist regularly. After discharge from the hospital, he was referred to Astera Cancer Care, where he met Dr. Sameer Desai.
After doing molecular studies on the biopsy, Dr. Desai recommended immunotherapy treatments every three weeks to attempt to eradicate the cancer. Despite experiencing some side effects, like rashes and itching, John knew he was in good hands and trusted Dr. Desai to support him throughout his journey. Within 6 months he attained remission and was doing well.
After two years of treatment, John’s PET scan unfortunately showed growth of a cancerous lymph node close to his pancreas. Surgery was not an option and so Dr. Desai recommended stereotactic radiosurgery. The team at Astera’s Princeton Radiation Oncology office were so comforting and after five doses of high intensity radiation, a subsequent PET scan in August 2021 showed no signs of cancer. John recalls hearing Dr. Desai’s magic words, “You’re absolutely clear.”
With treatment over, John continues to see Dr. Desai every few months, with periodic imaging studies such as CT scans and PET scans. John expressed his gratitude for the personalized care he received from Dr. Desai and Astera, saying that he felt like he was part of an extended family. “They really get to know you and treat you like family,” John said.
Now that he’s cancer-free, John can get back to enjoying his various hobbies. He is a stamp collector and enjoys working outdoors with his wife of 54 years. Together they have made changes to their lifestyle and are determined to remain healthy through regular exercise and following the Mediterranean diet.
published: April 3, 2023, 4:04 p.m.