Cancer journey Andrea Watkinson has been working as a care coordinator at St. Luke’s Nassif Community Cancer Center in Cedar Rapids for four years.
In May of 2015, Watkinson discovered she was dealing with a health issue of her own. As she was drying off with a towel after a shower, she noticed a lump above her left elbow. Initially she didn’t think much of it, until she began feeling numbness and tingling in her hand. That’s when Watkinson decided to have it checked. She called the office of John Vander Zee, MD, and scheduled a biopsy, which determined she had a myxofibroma sarcoma, a rare form of cancer, in her tendon or muscle. Watkinson was shocked, as this type of cancer is mostly found in the elderly. After speaking with Bharat Jenigiri, MD, an oncologist at Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa (PCI), Watkinson had a PET scan and MRI to determine if the cancer was invading the tendon in her arm. The results of the exams
the new St. Luke’s Albert G. and Helen Nassif Radiation Center in Cedar Rapids.
showed it was not, but they couldn’t be positive until they examined the area during surgery. If there was involvement with her tendon, she could possibly lose functionality of her left arm.
“I wasn’t really nervous about being one of the first radiation patients,” said Watkinson. “I knew the people taking care of me are top-of-the-line. They had my best interest at heart, not just because I am an employee, but because they genuinely care about their patients.”
As part of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids has access to Mayo Clinic’s knowledge and expertise when providers feel additional resources will be helpful to patients. Before her surgery, Watkinson had a Mayo Clinic consultation. “Because of my age and what I had to lose, we wanted to make sure we were on the right path…and we were,” explained Watkinson. Watkinson underwent two separate surgeries last August. She has since recovered and has full use of her arm.
RADIATION THERAPY After surgery, radiation was needed. On October 21, she was one of the first patients to receive radiation therapy at
“Andrea’s treatment was complex because of the location near her elbow joint,” said Bobby Koneru, MD, radiation oncologist at St. Luke’s Nassif Radiation Center. “Fortunately, we had the expertise and technology to treat her cancer with precision. Both the UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Radiation Center in Cedar Rapids and UnityPoint Health – Finley Hospital’s Wendt Regional Cancer Center in Dubuque have well trained staff, top notch treatment and the technology to deliver high quality radiation therapy.”
“ Fortunately, we had the expertise and technology to treat her cancer with precision.” Bobby Koneru, MD, radiation oncologist St. Luke’s Nassif Radiation Center in Cedar Rapids and Finley’s Wendt Cancer Center in Dubuque
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| unitypoint.org