The number of COVID patients at The University of Kansas Health System is steady today. 15 with the active virus are being treated, the same as yesterday. Eight patients are in the ICU, up from six yesterday. Five are on ventilators, the same as yesterday. 36 other patients are still hospitalized because of COVID but are out of the acute infection phase, up from 30 yesterday. That’s a total of 51 patients, up from 45 yesterday.
On today’s Morning Medical Update, we continue to observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Today it's a special milestone, the 100th patient to receive an advanced cancer treatment called Intra-operative radiation therapy, or IORT. We went live inside the operating room to explain how it works. We also discussed how screening and early detection often allows for more advanced treatment options like this.
You may recall Betty Dickenson. Back in January she was the first patient here at the health system and in the state of Kansas to receive I-O-R-T. Betty was diagnosed with breast cancer during the pandemic and the single dose of radiation during her lumpectomy was added comfort because it meant she didn't have to make repeated trips back to the hospital for radiation, and that felt safer, as well as more convenient. Betty has recovered and is doing great.
Today the 100th patient, Leanna Doherty from Farmington, Kansas, agreed to let us watch her procedure live. In the studio to describe IORT was Dr. Lori Lindstrom, a radiation oncologist who is one of a team of nine health specialists who perform these procedures together. She said they are way ahead of schedule, planning to do just two a month last January, but have done five times that many. She explained that early in the pandemic, many women skipped their mammograms due to the stay-at-home-orders, and now are coming to their doctor with more advanced breast cancer. The huge benefit of IORT is that all the radiation needed to treat the cancer is given in one dose at the same time the cancer is removed in surgery. Usually patients have to first recover from surgery then come every day for several weeks for a 15 minute radiation treatment. That’s very difficult for someone in a small and distant community like Liana. Dr. Lindstrom calls this treatment a game changer but says it’s not for everyone. It works best on small tumors in the early stages of breast cancer and about 90 percent of patients don’t need any further radiation. Another benefit is it precisely targets the tumor, sparing surrounding healthy tissue. She says it completely enables a patient to get back to life as normal the same day. She recommends any woman who feels a little swelling in the breast should get it checked out as soon as possible. She also says it’s vital for women to get their screening exams since it’s not yet known how to prevent breast cancer and early detection can make all the difference in a good outcome.
Dr. Shane Stecklein is a radiation oncologist and took part in today’s procedure. When he finished his role, he stepped out of the OR and described who qualifies for IORT, typically women 45 and older with relatively small hormone driven breast cancers and no aggressive features in their pathology. He says the procedure usually takes about half an hour from start to finish and the side effects are minimal.
Dr. Neba Neba is a radiation physicist. He described how the probe of the machine goes into the cavity left after the cancerous tumor is removed to deliver the radiation. His job is to make sure the right size probe is used, and the right amount of radiation is applied.
Dr. Kelsey Larson is the breast surgeon for today’s procedure. She says it all went fantastic, and the patient should be home in Farmington for lunch. Her role was the same as in a traditional lumpectomy, to remove the tumor. But for this procedure, she stands by making sure the radiation portion of the procedure from her colleagues goes as planned before releasing the patient after a short stay in the recovery room.
Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control at The University of Kansas Health System, is cautiously optimistic by the lower COVID patient numbers, but says more vaccinations are needed now to prevent a surge in the virus for the holidays. He noted the average age of unvaccinated patients in the hospital is about ten years younger than vaccinated patients. He agrees screenings are the best way to stay healthy. That includes getting all the recommended vaccinations, like influenza, pneumonia, shingles, tetanus and the one for COVID. He says without vaccination, you’re rolling the dice with your health.
Wednesday, October 13 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Open Mics With Dr. Stites. Telehealth started out as a way to stay safe during the pandemic but has become very convenient and a whole new way for many of us to visit our doctor. Yet this convenience may be in danger of going away as patients currently enjoy it. We’ll explain how you can have a say tomorrow.
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.
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