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Family Health Magazine - Spring/Summer 2005

Profiles in Cancer:
Expert Gynecologic Cancer Care Found Close to Home

WIn the middle of radiation treatment for uterine cancer at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Diana Davis felt good enough to take a long-awaited cruise with friends. The minimal side effects allowed her to enjoy the cruise and return to continue the radiation therapy.

Raquel T. Wagman, M.D., Radiation Oncologist (left), with patient Diana Davis.

I felt fine and really had a fun time on the trip, says Ms. Davis. The treatment I received at Saint Barnabas was excellent. Everyone was wonderful to me.

Ms. Davis had been diagnosed with uterine cancer after a small tumor was found. While she considered having her cancer treatment in New York City, she hoped to find expert care closer to home to avoid the exhausting commute out of state. After meeting with radiation oncologists at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, she decided that this was her best choice for medical care.

I could drive myself there for treatment four days a week, she relates. I had few side effects and they really worked around my schedule.

High Dose Brachytherapy, No Hospital Stay
The Radiation Oncology Department at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston is one of only a few in New Jersey and across the country to offer new state-of-the-art High Dose Rate Brachytherapy for cervical and other gynecologic cancers. Gone are the days of painful applicators that require a 72-hour hospital stay. Now treatment for patients like Diana takes 10 minutes over several visits and recovery time is minimal.

In the past patients undergoing radiation therapy for gynecologic cancers had to contend with an uncomfortable applicator and a 24-72 hour hospital stay in virtual seclusion because of the radiation dose.

It was an isolating and painful process, says Raquel T. Wagman, M.D., radiation oncologist. Now, our new treatment uses a small, lighter applicator for greater comfort.

The high dose given means patients stay only 3-4 hours and go home the same day. During treatment they can watch television and relax with visitors. It is a much less lonely process for our patients.

The team of board-certified radiation oncologists offers a wealth of experience in providing advanced cancer treatments. Robert Goodman, M.D., Chairman, was on the staff of Harvard Medical School and the University of Pennsylvania; Alison Grann, M.D., and Raquel T. Wagman, M.D. served on the staff of Memorial- Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Andrew Zablow, M.D., Vice Chairman, has been pivotal in cancer treatment at Saint Barnabas for more than two decades.

Thank goodness I did quite well with the treatments and the physicians were excellent, reports Ms. Davis. If this will help other patients then I'm happy to share my story.

For more information about The Department of Radiation Oncology, please call (973) 322-5630.

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