New Technology ‘Lights Up’ Cancer Cells for Early-Stage Treatment
May 20, 2025
Martha Groh decided to get her health checked after watching her sister go through a tough cancer battle. The 70-year-old retired teacher who lives in Manahawkin was already watchful about her health.
In 2018, she had a CT scan, which showed some light gray spots on her right lung. The spots looked like frosted glass. A series of follow-up scans showed nodules on Martha’s lung, but they weren’t changing. But three years on, Martha wanted more peace of mind.
“I knew I had these nodules, and I wanted to make sure everything was okay,” says the grandmother of two. “My sister’s situation put it in my head that maybe I should get checked again.”
Martha’s intuition paid off. Another CT scan in 2024 changed everything. Martha’s son, a pathologist in Nebraska, reviewed the images. He saw tiny, almost invisible changes in the nodules.
‘Perfect Timing’
After Southern Ocean Medical Center pulmonologist Jeffrey Lipper, M.D., agreed that Martha’s nodules looked suspicious, he referred her to thoracic surgeon Rachel NeMoyer, M.D., thoracic surgeon at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Ocean University Medical Center and Southern Ocean.
Dr. NeMoyer decided Martha was an ideal candidate for groundbreaking new technology called Cytalux, a fluorescent dye that’s given by IV before surgery and binds to cancer cells to “light them up.” During surgery, a special camera detects the dye and emits a bright green signal, allowing surgeons to easily see cancerous tissue.
Cytalux was approved by the FDA for use in lung and ovarian cancer patients in 2022, but it’s not yet widely available. Jersey Shore quickly adopted the technology, and it’s now available at Southern Ocean and Ocean. Martha was one of Hackensack Meridian Health’s first 10 patients to benefit from this advanced technology.
“Martha came to us at the perfect time,” Dr. NeMoyer says. “In the past, we didn’t have the technology to remove her type of cancer at such a small size. We would have had to take out an entire lobe of her lung.”
In August 2024, Martha had the nodules completely removed with minimally invasive robotic surgery. Dr. NeMoyer made five small cuts in her right ribcage area. She then inserted several small surgical instruments, including the camera and light that illuminated Martha’s nodules “like a Christmas tree,” Dr. NeMoyer says. The whole procedure only lasted an hour and a half.
Her lung cancer turned out to be a rare, aggressive type. It nestled near the lung’s surface, where it could spread easily. “It’s good we went after this early, so it didn’t spread,” Dr. NeMoyer adds. “Martha wouldn’t have had any symptoms until the cancer was far along.”
Convenient Care
Martha went home two days after surgery. As an avid swimmer and gardener, she quickly resumed her normal activities. She had four rounds of preventive chemotherapy at Southern Ocean at the end of 2024.
“All of my chemotherapy was just 10 minutes away from my house,” Martha says. “It just made everything much easier that it was so close.”
Dr. NeMoyer, who saw Martha for her follow-up appointments, expects Martha’s health to endure. Martha is now looking forward to an upcoming cruise to Spain and Portugal. She is also excited to spend more quality time with her grandchildren. She urges others not to ignore the little voice inside them. If it’s telling you to follow up on a worrisome medical issue, do it.
“If I hadn’t done anything,” she says, “what would have happened to me?”
Next Steps & Resources
- Meet our sources: Jeffrey Lipper, M.D., and Rachel NeMoyer, M.D.
- Make an appointment with an oncologist near you or call 800-822-8905.
- Learn more about cancer care at Hackensack Meridian Health.
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.
