John Taylor is a man who fixes things. The 63-year-old has had a long career in maintenance and uses his know-how to help others. But his rectal cancer diagnosis left him incurable.
“My most important job is to take care of my wife, Sharon, who has Parkinson’s disease,” Taylor said. “I couldn’t let her months of arduous cancer treatment get in the way of my responsibilities to her.”
Colorectal cancer specialist Helen F. Graham Cancer Center and Institute Taylor offered the option of trying innovative new protocols that shorten treatment time and allow you to do the most important things in life faster.
click here Connect with the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center and Institute or call 302-623-4500.
Typically, people like Taylor who are diagnosed with early-stage, locally advanced rectal cancer receive a combination of radiation and chemotherapy before surgery to remove the cancer. Additional chemotherapy may be given after surgery to prevent the cancer from coming back in other parts of the body.
Recently published results from a large, government-sponsored clinical trial show that for patients like Taylor, skipping preoperative radiation can be just as effective.
Taylor is the first person in Delaware to follow the new radiation-free protocol.
“Chemotherapy was tough on me, so when my doctor told me I didn’t need radiation therapy, I decided to go for it,” Taylor said.
“At Graham Cancer Center, we consider not only your cancer, but also your life and family when making treatment decisions.”
— John Taylor
“I had full trust in the team and their decision to skip pre-surgery radiation. They have not steered me wrong yet.”
Based on clinical trial evidence, his treatment is shorter and better tolerated, and does not expose him to the potential harm that pelvic radiation can cause to skin and bone structure, bowel and sexual function. There was no.
“Clinical trials are leading to many advances that are reshaping the standard of care for rectal cancer,” explained the medical oncologist at ChristianaCare. Nicole Laslett, D.O.
“At a comprehensive cancer center like ours, we have the skills and multidisciplinary expertise to turn these discoveries into treatments that are more effective, more personalized, and more convenient for patients.”
Chemotherapy was successful in reducing the size of Taylor’s tumor in preparation for surgery.
“At Graham Cancer Center, we consider not only your cancer, but also your life and your family when making treatment decisions,” Dr. Taylor said.
“Thanks to Dr. Laslett and the rest of the team, I am looking forward to getting back to normal and being fully at my wife’s side again.”