Doctors delivered the devastating news on Maryann Harden’s 52nd birthday in October 1997. The lump she found in her breast was cancerous.

“I was in total shock. I had taken good care of myself—I ate well, drank lots of water, and worked out—and I had no family history of the disease. I couldn’t help asking, ‘Why me?’ but I have since learned that cancer does not discriminate,” recalls Harden, of Springfield.

Although Harden faithfully received annual mammograms, including one just seven months before her diagnosis, she had never performed breast self-examination. But while showering one day, something—an intuitive impulse perhaps—prompted Harden to examine her breasts. That’s when she discovered the lump, which was about the size of a pencil eraser.

“To this day, I don’t know what made me do a breast self-exam, but I’m so lucky I did,” says Harden. “After finding the lump, I saw my gynecologist, who referred me to a Crozer-Keystone surgeon. He performed a lumpectomy and a sentinel lymph node biopsy to see if the cancer had spread.”

According to Lee Bogart, M.D., chief of Hematology/Oncology at Taylor Hospital, the outlook has improved considerably for people newly diagnosed with cancer over the past decade.

“The widespread use of improved screening techniques has allowed earlier detection with enhanced chance of cure.  Improvements in adjuvant chemotherapy and the use of new targeted therapies have resulted in significantly improved outcomes in patients who have had surgery for breast, colon and lung cancer,” Dr. Bogart says.

Fortunately, doctors caught Harden’s cancer in a very early stage, while it was still localized in the breast. After her diagnosis, Harden consulted with Raymond J. Vivacqua, M.D., about her treatment options. Dr. Vivacqua is chief of Hematology/Oncology at Crozer-Chester Medical Center and medical director of the Crozer Regional Cancer Center.

Treatment philosophies also have evolved over time, emphasizing the preservation of healthy tissue over aggressive, radical removal, notes Dr. Vivacqua.

“With today’s advances in treatment and technology, a diagnosis of cancer doesn’t always mean the end of hope. In fact, today, millions of women and men are living with cancer or have been successfully treated,” he says. “It is truly important that patient needs are addressed during and after treatment. For this reason, we established the Proactive Energy Program, or PEP, to treat and prevent the fatigue that so often affects cancer patients. This program includes psychological counseling, nutritional support and physical conditioning.”

Maryann Harden opted for adjuvant radiation therapy five days a week for six weeks. She underwent treatment every day before work.

“Throughout treatment, I constantly was exposing myself to strangers in an unfamiliar environment, but the staff at Crozer Regional Cancer Center made me feel comfortable instantly.  The doctors answered explained everything in terms I could understand and answered all my questions. I knew exactly what to expect during and after treatment. I felt like I was talking to a friend rather than a doctor with all these credentials. It was like going to a second home,” remembers Harden. After completing radiation therapy, Harden took tamoxifen, a type of hormone therapy, for five years to prevent a recurrence of the cancer.

For Reverend Robert L. Cunningham, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in January 2005, the oncologists at Delaware County Memorial Hospital developed an individualized treatment plan. First he received hormone therapy to shrink the tumor. Radiation oncologists then delivered intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), a highly precise type of external-beam radiation. The treatment goal was destroying cancerous cells in Reverend Cunningham’s prostate gland and pelvic region, where the cancer had spread.

“When my doctor told me about the Fox Chase Crozer-Keystone Cancer Partnership, I knew I would be in excellent hands. Throughout my treatment and follow-up, I have been very satisifed with the care I received. The doctors and staff treated me like family,” lauds Rev. Cunningham, a pastor with Ebenezer Methodist Church in Glenolden.

According to John D. Sprandio, M.D., chief of Hematology/Oncology at Delaware County Memorial Hospital and medical director of the Delaware County Regional Cancer Center, as the process of diagnosing and treating cancer has evolved over the years, so too has the fundamental philosophy of patient care.

“Recognizing that a diagnosis of cancer touches many aspects of a patient’s life, multidisciplinary treatment teams have emerged to collaboratively care for all the complex needs of patients with cancer,” he says.

At the Delaware County Regional Cancer Center, like the Crozer Regional Cancer Center, the treatment team includes specially trained and certified medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, pathologists, nurses, therapists, pharmacists, registered dietitians, social workers and more.

“We have a very strong patient-education component so people with cancer understand their specific situation and all the resources available to them. In addition to treatment options, we discuss the pros and cons of participating in oncology clinical trials and even the benefits of complementary therapies such as yoga and massage, psychosocial support and nutrition counseling,” says Dr. Sprandio.

In addition to Crozer and DCMH, cancer care is provided by the Crozer-Keystone Health System at Taylor Hospital and Springfield Hospital. The health system also collaborates on clinical and research initiatives with Fox Chase Cancer Center as part of the Fox Chase Crozer-Keystone Cancer Partnership. Fox Chase was the nation’s first cancer hospital and was one of the nation’s first comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute. U.S. News and World Report has named Fox Chase the leading cancer center serving Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware and 11th in the entire nation.

At Crozer-Keystone hospitals, raising awareness about the importance of early detection and managing risk factors is a priority. The health system offers a number of programs designed to help members of the community quit smoking, become more physically active, and learn other strategies that can help reduce their risk of developing cancer and other serious illnesses. Free prostate, breast, skin, and colorectal cancer screenings are provided by Crozer-Keystone hospitals throughout the year. And the health system’s comprehensive cancer risk assessment prevention program, PARCA, helps clients identify and manage personal risk factors for developing cancer.
 
“The outlook for surviving cancer is better than ever, and patients today have many more options than they did just a few decades ago. Knowing your risk factors, recognizing early signs of trouble, and getting screened regularly can help you keep one step ahead of the disease,” says Joel Noumoff, M.D., director of Gynecologic Oncology at Crozer-Chester Medical Center and medical director of the Fox Chase Crozer-Keystone Cancer Partnership for Crozer-Chester Medical Center.

For more information about cancer care at the hospitals of the Fox Chase Crozer-Keystone Cancer Partnership, or to find a cancer specialist who’s right for you, call 1-800-CK-HEALTH (1-800-254-3258).