The University of Kansas Health System reports a slightly lower number of COVID patients today. 14 with the active virus are being treated, down from 17 yesterday. Six patients are in the ICU, down from seven yesterday. All six are on ventilators, up from five yesterday. 34 other patients are still hospitalized because of COVID but are out of the acute infection phase, up from 31 yesterday. That’s a total of 48 patients, the same as yesterday. HaysMed has nine active and six recovering COVID patients.
On today’s Morning Medical Update, we were joined by breast cancer oncologist Dr. Priyanka Sharma of The University of Kansas Cancer Center to talk about clinical trials during COVID. We met one of her patients, Vanessa Chatman, who was given only a year to live and says a clinical trial saved her life.
We began by introducing Vanessa Chatman in this video. She explained how she was first diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer in 2015. After three years, it came back aggressively as metastatic triple negative breast cancer, stage four and incurable, having spread to other parts of her body. She was given about a year to live. Fortunately, she qualified for a clinical trial at The University of Kansas Cancer Center, and for nearly two years, she was given a combination of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation. It worked and last December she was told she was in complete remission, meaning the cancer is still there but dormant. Today, she says she’s doing great and continues to see her doctor just to make sure the cancer doesn’t come back. As far as the trial, she had initial questions about possible side effects, but decided to participate. She figured even if it didn’t work for her, it may help someone else like her. While going through the trial, Vanessa wrote to keep her mind off of the cancer, saying it’s best not to dwell on the illness itself. She recently completed her first novel, a romance, that she said could be published by the end of the year. She says she’s “Living, thriving and enjoying my grandchildren.” She added, “I’m grateful Dr. Sharma and her team crossed my path.”
Dr. Sharma is Vanessa’s oncologist, the quarterback of the team that takes care of her. She explained why Vanessa was a good candidate for this trial, and says because of the cancer center’s NCI designation, they have leading edge trials for just about every type and stage of cancer. She stresses that early screening and detection are the keys to controlling cancer. She says it’s not common for someone like Vanessa with stage four cancer to be able to stop all treatment, but clinical trials can allow that to happen. She explained how trials are funded and says while participants are not normally paid for being in the trial, they often can be reimbursed for expenses such as travel. She encourages people of all ethnic backgrounds to participate in trials as some cancers tend to inflict certain races and subgroups more. Her best advice is for all patients to be active participants in their care and decision making, ask questions and do their research.
Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control at The University of Kansas Health System, says he’s encouraged by the possibility of booster shots soon being approved for the Moderna and J&J vaccines. But he’s more concerned about the glut in supply in the U.S. because of how many people have not had even a first dose. He says it’s too soon to tell if there’s anything to a report on a study claiming the flu vaccine may provide some protection against COVID. He does stress that a flu shot should not be a replacement for the COVID vaccine. He also reminded everyone that it’s OK to get both the flu and COVID vaccines at the same time.
Friday, October 15 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. We’ll answer questions we couldn't get to this earlier this week. Plus, during this Emergency Nurses Week, we shine the light on these rock star front line workers.
NOTE: Journalists should rejoin the Morning Medical Update at 8am as doctors are growing too busy again for individual interview requests. Please bring questions or send to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu until further notice. Thanks for all you do and helping to keep the community safe with your reporting.
ATTENTION: media procedure for calling in:
The meeting is available by Zoom, both video and by phone. To join the Zoom Meeting by video, click https://kumc-ois.zoom.us/j/7828978628
Telephone dial-in Participants: For those without Zoom, call 1-312-626-6799, meeting ID: 782 897 8628.
The feed is also available via TVU grid. The TVU source is UoK_Health and is being made available to all.
Feel free to send questions in advance to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu.