When Norma Vaughn , 79 , of Vernon was diagnosed with breast cancer more than ayear ago , the news came like akick to the gut . She thought that her prospects for treatment would include chemotherapy , radiation , or surgery , all of which could have difficult side-effects that she was not looking forward to .
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When Norma Vaughn , 79 , of Vernon was diagnosed with breast cancer more than ayear ago , the news came like akick to the gut . She thought that her prospects for treatment would include chemotherapy , radiation , or surgery , all of which could have difficult side-effects that she was not looking forward to .
To her surprise , her oncologist , Dr . Michael Kane , offered other options with far less harsh side-effects . “ Our goals in treating Norma were to try toavoid chemotherapy not only to preserve her quality of life but also to give her something that ’ staken orally , soshe doesn ’ t have tospend alot of time at the doctor ’ soffice ,” Kane said .
After an initial try with hormone therapy , Kane recommended another alternative – immunotherapy .
“ He seemed to think it was the thing for me to do , and evidently , it was ,” Vaughn said .
Until just two years ago , the best option for beating most types of cancer was surgery , chemotherapy orradiation – ora combination of these . Today , due in parttoresearchers at Atlantic Health System , exciting new drugs are available nationwide .
“ Instead of using chemicalsor radiation , these drugs fight cancer using the body ’ s own immune system while another newer method attacks the cancer directly using aunique approach different from chemotherapy ," said Kane , MD , Medical DirectorofCommunity Oncology for Atlantic Health System , which includes Atlantic Medical Oncology inPompton Plains . And they ’ re very effective .
Kane started Vaughn on a regimen of palbociclib and letrozole , which she takes daily . Aside from some tiredness , Vaughn said she has not experienced any harsh side effects from the medication . The cancer , which had spread to her bones , was shown to have virtually disappeared . “ It was such good news ,” Vaughn said . Kane said Norma ’ s case demonstrated immunotherapy drugs ’ ability to preserve apatient ’ squality of life . “ I think what we ’ ve done is turn an illness like breast cancer into achronic illness where we have amedicine that someone can take onaregular , ongoing basis ,” Kane said . “ I ’ m very pleased because Norma ’ sbeen able to do almost everything she ’ s wanted to do and we haven ’ t interfered with that . The fact that she ’ s able to take pills makes her mobile .”
“ Immunotherapy helps the body to use its own natural defense system to kill cancer cells .”
Dr . Michael Kane
“ Traditional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation work bykilling cancer cells directly ,” says Eric Whitman , MD , medical director of Atlantic Health System ’ s Carol G . Simon CancerCenters . “ Immunotherapy helps the body to use its own natural defense system to kill cancer cells . We ’ ve been part of this research for along time , and the results for our patients have been impressive .”
When the body finds “ intruders ” like bacteria oravirus , the immune system uses special cells to attack them . But cancer is tricky . It has , until now , beenableto hide from these specialattack cells . Immunotherapy uses drugs that help the body recognize cancer cells and then kill them . And because the drugs continue to help the immune system over time , patients might not need further treatment to fight any similar cells that return .
Another important benefit of immunotherapy is that itrarely causes anything like the side effects of traditional treatment , such as nausea , hair loss and fatigue .
Immunotherapy has been most promising for melanoma , a type ofskin cancer . But physicians at Atlantic Health System and elsewhere are finding that , for the first time , immunotherapy drugs are also working for cancers ofthe head and neck , mouth , throat , lung , breast and kidney .
Immunotherapy does not work for every patient or for every type ofcancer . But research continues to determine what can make new drugs or combinations of drugs work better .
Cancer services at Chilton Medical Center are supported by Atlantic Health System , which provides experienced doctors and medical professionals , state-of-the-art technology , promising medical treatments , the newest clinical innovations and compassionate support services , all available toanyone who enters our trusted network of caring . Patients are also offered access to afull spectrum of supportservices for all stages of cancer for the patient , caregivers and family , including patient navigation , social work , nutritional support , genetic counseling and integrative medicine . ❖
For more information about cancer services at Atlantic Health System , visit : atlantichealth . org / cancer or call Atlantic Medical Oncology at 973-831-5025 .
CHILTON MAGAZINE WINTER 2016