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Center Offers Timely Response from Top Experts in Lung and Chest Cancers

Mark Stacy wanted a second opinion. As a truck mechanic he was used to aches and pains, but he knew the ache behind his right shoulder was different. The pain was “horrendous” when he lay on his back to work on a truck. He was in his mid 40s and had smoked since he was a teenager.

The physician he consulted in the summer of 1999 couldn’t say for sure what his problem was. Four months went by while he saw different doctors and was unable to get any definite answers. At that point, Stacy’s wife started doing research on the Internet and found Loyola University Medical Center.

Many people, like Stacy, come to Loyola’s Thoracic Oncology Center seeking a second opinion. For some, Loyola is their first stop when they start noticing symptoms such as chronic coughing, shortness of breath or unusual pain. Some people who have a history of smoking but no symptoms at all, come to Loyola because they want to protect themselves with the latest promising screening tool for the early detection of lung cancer (see sidebar).

What Loyola’s Thoracic Oncology Center offers all people – no matter what their history – is the convenience of seeing multiple specialists at one location, quick feedback about their illnesses and treatment options, and the benefit of having top physicians working together to reach a consensus about their diagnosis and treatment. The center offers access to some of the latest national clinical research trials, such as the study of a promising new oral lung cancer agent called Iressa. Many of these trials are multidisciplinary.

Only about a week after Stacy’s wife found Loyola on the Web, he had several tests performed at Loyola, had consulted with physicians at the Thoracic Oncology Center, had a definitive diagnosis of lung cancer and a treatment plan. His primary physician at Loyola was Kathy Albain, M.D., a medical oncologist and director of the Thoracic Oncology Center. On the same day, he also saw Wickii Vigneswaran, M.D., a thoracic surgeon and co-director of the Thoracic Oncology Center, and Wade Thorstad, M.D., a radiation oncologist. Stacy’s treatment program was initiated according to a national protocol.

“Dr. Albain was astonished at how large the mass was in proportion to my body,” Stacy said. “She suspected it was growing quickly.” 

Since cancer sometimes grows and spreads rapidly, patients benefit from seeing all the specialists they need in just one visit, Albain said. “The physicians can discuss the nuances of each individual’s illness in front of the X-rays and collaborate on designing the best possible treatment plan.”

Starting in October 1999, Stacy simultaneously underwent radiation and chemotherapy treatments. He returned to the Thoracic Oncology Center to see all his physicians in December. His tumor had shrunk by 61 percent and was small enough to be surgically removed by Vigneswaran. After surgery, Stacy received additional chemotherapy. Since then, he has been disease free. He feels indebted to his physicians and the staff at Loyola.

“Dr. Albain is a very truthful lady. Her smile gave me the feeling that there was hope,” Stacy said. “All of the staff were incredible. When they say they treat the human spirit, they really mean it. The way they approach you, the way they talk to you, they take the fear factor away.”

Bahman Emami, M.D., radiation oncology, also serves as co-director of the Thoracic Oncology Center. Members of the steering committee include Joseph Clark, M.D., medical oncology; Robert Henkin, M.D., radiology; Aliya Husain, M.D., pathology; Edward Melian, M.D., radiation oncology; Nena Mirkovic, M.D., radiation oncology; and Kevin Simpson, M.D., pulmonary medicine. The center coordinator is Rita Vercruysse, R.N., M.P.H.