Vim & Vigor - Winter 2013 - Gwinnett Medical Center - (Page 8)

Krista Summerour Ganley and her husband, chef Michael Ganley, discuss details of the Payne-Corley House, a special-events facility that they own and operate. knew we were blessed to have one healthy child. Plus, we did not want to wait to begin treating the cancer." So Ganley made child-care and business arrangements to undergo a second surgery just two weeks after the first. "The second surgery was to make sure the cancer stage was accurate," Dr. Salmieri says, "and to biopsy some additional sites, such as lymph nodes, to make sure they were clear." Second Surgery Once again, Ganley had surgery at GMC-Lawrenceville and then spent several nights at the hospital. Treating the 'C' Word Cancer. the very word strikes fear in us. What treatment is best? how will i cope? Who will help guide me? and most important, can i beat it? at gwinnett Medical center, we don't just treat the cancer, we treat the individual. With oncologists, patient and breast health navigators, supportive services, healthy lifestyle programs and a new cancer support center to provide centralized care, you can receive all you need close to home. in addition, gMc's cancer program has been accredited by the commission on cancer of the american college of Surgeons. this means when people receive care at gMc, they also have access to information on clinical trials, new treatments and genetic counseling. 8 WINTE R 2 013 "The nurses were so kind," Ganley says. Through the spring and summer, every three weeks Ganley received chemotherapy, sharing camaraderie with other women who were also getting their infusion treatments. "There was a real spirit of optimism in the room," Ganley says. "I think all the ladies there going through chemo had accepted what needed to be done for their treatment, even though it wasn't easy. No one felt sorry for themselves. For me, it was heartbreaking to know that some of the women I met were not going to have the positive outcome that I would. It made me all the more grateful." After chemotherapy finished in August, Ganley returned to Dr. Salmieri's office every few weeks for a blood test to check the CA125 marker and monitor whether the ovarian cancer was returning. In December, the results showed a spike, which might indicate the cancer was back. This would be exceedingly unusual so soon after the completion of chemotherapy, so Ganley did what most people would-she started researching on the Internet. PleaSant SurPriSe "I found that being pregnant can cause the CA125 marker to spike," she says, "so I sent my husband out for a pregnancy test. While this pregnancy ended up in a miscarriage, somehow after that my body regulated itself back to normal." About a year later, Ganley was back at GMC- Lawrenceville with Dr. Arona, this time in the Gwinnett Women's Pavilion. After a normal, healthy pregnancy, Dr. Arona delivered Ganley's full-term, fraternal twin boys. "At the end of the day, that soccer-ball sized tumor was a blessing," Ganley says. "It helped us catch the cancer in its early stages. I would advise women to pay attention to your body if you feel like something's wrong. Even if you can't exactly name it, go see your doctor." Back to their BuSy liveS Seven years later, Ganley has had no recurrence of the cancer. She and her husband are busier than ever with their three boys, the Park Café, and the Payne-Corley House, which they own and run as a special-events facility. "My parents and I were all born right here in Duluth, at Joan Glancy Memorial Hospital," Ganley says. "We have always had a great sense of pride in being from this terrific community. When GMC-Duluth opened, it continued Joan Glancy's legacy, with the latest technology as well as a high level of patient care and compassion. I'm so glad I could have my cancer treatments close to home."

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Winter 2013 - Gwinnett Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2013 - Gwinnett Medical Center
Contents
Phil’s Feature
Heartfelt Purpose
Not Too Busy to Beat Cancer
Got Excuses?
Managing Your Health with a DIY Tool Kit
Is It the Stress Talking?
The Wonderful World of Greens
Knee-to-Know Basics
On the Cover
Run for Your Life
14 Good-for-You Gifts
Special Delivery
Virtual Health
PrimeTime Health
Inspired Giving
Heads Full of Hope
Out of the White
Transforming Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2013 - Gwinnett Medical Center