The University of Kansas Health System is seeing a slight increase in COVID patients, treating 85 total COVID patients today, up from 72 yesterday. Other significant numbers:
• 18 with the active virus, 9 yesterday
• 1 in ICU, 0 yesterday
• 1 on ventilators, 0 yesterday
• 67 hospitalized but out of acute infection phase, 63 yesterday
Key points from today’s guests:
Mary Alice Weimer, bone cancer patient
• In 2000, Mary Alice was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. Seventeen years later, after pain in her back, an x-ray showed metastatic cancer in other parts of the body.
• She was in pain and didn’t think much could be done to help. She was referred to Dr. Kyle Sweeney at The University of Kansas Cancer Center and she didn’t believe the doctor at first when he told her that he would work on a plan to provide her with a better quality of life, but she says she has a great quality of life now.
• She was able to return to work with the Kansas City Chiefs and get back to volunteering. She said the Chiefs have been great about welcoming her back in her role in guest services and game day operations
• Her plan included implant surgery that included inserting a rod into her femur to help prevent the weakened bone from breaking. After three small incisions, she was up and walking the same day of the surgery.
• She does have a follow-up check-in plan with Dr. Sweeney to make sure she is taken care of and that any other issues can be investigated immediately. She said a great tool is MyChart so you can go back and look at notes from the doctors.
• Mary Alice wants people to know there is life after a cancer diagnosis. She is feeling quite well now, continues oral chemotherapy, and is moving on and enjoying life.
Dr. Kyle Sweeney, specialist in musculoskeletal oncology and reconstructive surgery
• Mary Alice was in pain when he first saw her and knew this had to be addressed with a plan.
• Most cancers can spread outside of the initial site, that’s when it is called metastatic.
• When cancer spreads to the bone, it can eat away at the bone. Moth-eaten is the description because there are little holes in the bone.
• Once Dr. Sweeney had the imaging for Mary Alice, they built a plan for treatment. There are a lot of moving pieces: What types of therapies? What types of treatments? Is surgery required? Our priority was managing the pain and avoiding bones breaking.
• Typically, oncology clinics have survivorship clinics for post-care screenings that include CT scans, PET scans, or x-rays. The doctors tailor the surveillance to the specific disease.
• Without these advancements today, patients would have lesser quality of life.
• People like Mary Alice are what keeps you going. She has a wonderful spirit. Those relationships are special.
• Can cancer in bone marrow/pelvis be treated? Dr. Sweeney is working on new minimally invasive implants with balloons that inflate in the pelvis.
• Can cancer be detected with only blood work? It depends on the cancer. Some can be found in blood work, but others, like breast cancer, are not. Routine surveillance and regular imaging are key. Being aware of your own body and getting pains checked out if you had cancer prior is also important.
• How does proton therapy fit into this? Proton therapy is an exciting future treatment for metastatic bone cancer. Proton beams are remarkable to focus in on key areas where radiation is needed without much “scatter”.
• How should family members handle second opinions? Nurse navigators, who are dedicated to bridging the gap between patient and physician, are great about helping family members with second opinion question at the Cancer Center.
• If you are diagnosed with cancer, you need a comprehensive plan. Are all specialists talking to each other? Here, this is an important part of what we do to provide a comprehensive cancer treatment plan.
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director, Infection Prevention and Control
• What is the latest with under age 5 vaccine trials? There is no new news there, but there is more focus on a fourth shot/second booster.
• Does prior infection from COVID BA1 provide protection for COVID BA2? You can get re-infected, but to what extent, we don’t know. We know that you have gained better immunity to reduce severe cases when you are infected or vaccinated.
