Living Well after Three Urologic Cancer Diagnoses
October 01, 2024
As a survivor of bladder, kidney and ureter cancer in the last decade, Kathryn Moore, 80, of Manchester, New Jersey, has faced her share of health challenges. But through it all, the urologic oncology team at Jersey Shore University Medical Center — including Medical Director of Urologic Oncology Mina Fam, M.D., and urologist John Chapman, M.D. — has been by her side.
Kathryn first connected with Dr. Chapman after receiving a bladder cancer diagnosis in 2016.
“I had recently moved back to New Jersey, and I knew I needed to find a doctor at Jersey Shore [University Medical Center],” said Kathryn. “I found Dr. Chapman online and liked what I saw. When I went to meet him, I immediately loved him.”
Dr. Chapman successfully treated Kathryn’s bladder cancer using a type of immunotherapy called Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG). Kathryn remained under Dr. Chapman’s care and received routine cystoscopy procedures, which allowed Dr. Chapman to check the inside of her bladder for signs that the cancer had returned.
A Second Diagnosis
During one of Kathryn’s routine visits, Dr. Chapman noticed that her test results showed decreased kidney function.
“An MRI showed that I had a very small tumor on my right kidney, so Dr. Chapman referred me to Dr. Fam,” said Kathryn.
Already a one-time cancer survivor, Kathryn was ready to do what was needed to get rid of the cancer — and she said she was ready to do it “yesterday.” Dr. Fam recommended removing Kathryn’s right kidney using robotic-assisted surgery, and Kathryn was on board.
A few weeks later, Dr. Fam performed a robotic radical nephroureterectomy procedure through a few small incisions in Kathryn’s abdomen — which turned out to be a life-saving decision.
“After we removed her kidney, we found a second tumor starting on the side that wasn’t picked up on the MRI,” said Dr. Fam. “Pathology results showed that Kathryn had two kinds of cancer in her kidney — renal cell carcinoma and upper tract urothelial cancer — so removing the entire kidney and ureter was definitely the right call.”
“By removing the entire kidney, Dr. Fam said I dodged a bullet,” Kathryn said. “I only spent a few days in the hospital, recovered quickly, and had no pain. When my sister came to visit, she couldn’t tell that I already had surgery because I looked so well.”
Round Two with Robotic Surgery
With her kidney surgery behind her, Kathryn continued routine follow-up with Dr. Chapman. During a cystoscopy procedure, Dr. Chapman found a lesion in her ureter — the tube that allows urine to drain from the kidney to the bladder.
Because the tumor was close to where the ureter connects to the bladder, Dr. Fam was able to use robotic technology to remove the diseased portion of Kathryn’s ureter and reconnect the healthy ureter to her bladder.
“Without access to robotic surgical technology or expertise, Kathryn might have required a larger, more radical surgery — possibly to remove the entire remaining kidney and ureter, which would require her to be on dialysis indefinitely,” said Dr. Fam. “With robotic surgery, we can precisely perform complex procedures without damaging surrounding organs and tissues — and as a result, we were able to treat Kathryn’s tumor while preserving her kidney and ureter.”
A Positive Experience
And just like her first experience with robotic surgery, Kathryn recovered remarkably well — again receiving a cancer-free bill of health.
“At Jersey Shore University Medical Center, we have the technology and experience to deliver a high level of minimally invasive urologic care,” said Dr. Fam. “For Kathryn, our goal was to avoid dialysis due to her active lifestyle. We were able to provide effective treatment and a quick recovery while preserving her quality of life — and that’s something that isn’t available everywhere.”
Today, Kathryn continues to see Dr. Chapman for follow-up every three months, and she can’t say enough positive things about her care and her team.
“Dr. Chapman and Dr. Fam are so kind and knowledgeable,” said Kathryn. “If either of them gave me a diagnosis and a treatment recommendation, I would follow their advice without hesitation — because for me, they’re it.”
Next Steps & Resources
- Meet our sources: Mina Fam, M.D., and John Chapman, M.D.
- To make an appointment with a provider near you, call 1-844-HMH-WELL or visit our website.
- Learn more about our robotic surgery services.
The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.
