The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 38 COVID patients today, 41 last week. Other significant numbers:

• 23 with the active virus today, 22 last week
• 2 in ICU, 2 last week
• 1 on a ventilator, 0 last week
• 15 hospitalized, but out of acute infection phase, 19 last week

Key points from today’s guests:

Alice Marshall, cancer patient

• She was diagnosed in 2015 with a spot on her face that turned out to be lymphoma. and immediately started chemotherapy followed by a CT scan.
• That scan changed everything it detected stage four colon cancer and sent Alice into an epic battle to save her life.
• Cancer was then detected in her lungs, a byproduct of the colon cancer.
• In total, she did 20 rounds of chemotherapy.
• Family, faith, and science kept her going throughout the treatment and recovery – and she is leading a normal life now.

Dr. Raed Al-Rajabi, oncologist, The University of Kansas Health System

• Any patient that has symptoms like altered bowel habits, blood in the stool that are persistent, that means it's not a one-time deal. They really should get checked out by their primary care physician.
• Other symptoms include abdominal pain, weight, unintentional weight loss, severe fatigue that persists -- make sure you're recognizing those symptoms and then communicating them with your physician.
• As a patient, always looking at your health care options is important because it opens up more doors and possibilities especially in cases of stage four colon cancer -- there may be other options that are not available locally that people can investigate.
• Becoming a Comprehensive Cancer Center recently indicates our commitment to research and developing technologies that will help save lives and hopefully have great outcomes like Alice.

Dr. Mazin Al-Kasspooles, oncologist, The University of Kansas Health System

• Part of her colon was removed, and her lymph nodes were positive.
• She went on to receive chemotherapy, but she didn't receive all of her treatments.
• Many times patients can't tolerate all of the chemotherapy, but that's still okay.
• With chemotherapy, our goal is of course to wipe out the cancer but also to ensure that we don't have any permanent disabilities or problems in the future.
• It's really because of not only modern technology, but also modern medicine that we have better chemotherapy now.

Dr. Dana Hawkinson, director of infection control and prevention, The University of Kansas Health System

• Studies are showing monoclonal antibodies may not work as effectively with new COVID variants.
• This is not good news for those who are immunocompromised and can’t get the vaccine.
• As new COVID variants become more dominant variants, this lessens the treatment options for COVID patients.
• Hopefully, there will be new monoclonal antibodies developed.

Tuesday, November 29 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. Learn more about new burn treatment technology with hyperbaric chambers and the top ways to avoid burns around the holidays.

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