Scott Schaffer: Doctors at a center in Philadelphia are not only focusing on treating those with cancer but also helping patients maintain quality of life while they fight the disease.
Paula Giangiacomo: Joe Garret went to the center for a closer look at its method in tonight’s HEALTHWATCH.
Jill Garret: There are people from our area who drive to Philadelphia to this place - The Cancer Treatment Centers of America. What makes this place so different?
Dr. Steven Standiford: One of the exciting things is even though we don’t win every time I think everybody leaves here a winner because they leave here after their treatments feeling like we are restoring them to what they used to be.
Jill Garret: Dr. Steven Standiford is Chief of Surgery. He finds malnutrition to be the greatest threat to most patients. So changes in diet are often needed before cancer treatment.
Dr. Steven Standiford: And they understand that. They understand that if you aren’t putting the fuel in, they don’t have the energy for the fight, and this is a fight.
Sharon Walker: And we want to prevent malnutrition first and identify what the goal is for calories and protein for each and every patient and then also identify any barriers that patients might have to meeting their calorie and protein needs.
Jill Garret: John Fedor and his wife moved within Wilkes-Barre Township. They both are fighting cancer.
John Fedor: They are more open-minded as far as treatment goes, it’s not just ‘this is the way its going to be’ and you are going to have to accept that.
Jill Garret: Instead of giving large infusions of chemotherapy smaller doses are given over a long period of time.
Dr. Rudolph Willis: We have found subsequently by fractionation of chemotherapy that patients probably with the higher response rate and less toxicity.
Jill Garret: Natural supplements also play a role in helping patients through chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Organic foods are also served to patients.
Aminah Keats: A lot of times patients tell me ‘I am so happy that you recommended this supplement. I am feeling better in terms of the poor form of neuropathy that I experienced or any taste changes that I experienced’.
Jill Garret: The supplements can be picked up at the center or mailed. For more information on treating cancer you can check our website wnep.com. I am Jill Garret, NewsMark 16, Philadelphia.