Throat cancer survivor Paula Ruska attributes her recovery to Dr. Laila Gharzai, a radiation oncologist who provided her with holistic care. Ruska and Gharzai are using National Cancer Survivor Month as an opportunity to share their experiences and raise awareness about the challenges faced by cancer survivors.
Ruska was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2022 at the age of 68. The prospect of surgery was daunting, but she found reassurance in Dr. Gharzai's approach, opting for chemo-radiation instead. “She was very knowledgeable and not pushy at all,” said Ruska. Her treatment involved seven weeks of radiation therapy, during which music helped her cope with fear.
Post-treatment challenges included fatigue and swallowing difficulties, but comprehensive care from Dr. Gharzai’s team provided crucial support. Ruska appreciated the responsiveness to her concerns through MyChart messages, emphasizing how important immediate responses were during her treatment.
Dr. Gharzai's experiences with patients like Ruska inspired a study at Northwestern Medicine surveying over 300 head-and-neck cancer survivors. Published in Supportive Care in Cancer, the study highlighted significant gaps in survivorship care: about 15% experienced depression, less than a third had access to essential resources like mental health support and nutrition guidance, and many suffered lingering side effects.
“People are living longer after cancer, which is wonderful,” said Dr. Gharzai from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. However, she noted that comprehensive survivorship programs are lacking across the U.S., particularly for those who have undergone radiation for head-and-neck cancers.
The study revealed that nearly half of the participants preferred fewer clinic visits if they could address multiple issues simultaneously rather than more frequent shorter visits.
Dr. Gharzai's team plans to expand their research to include other types of cancer patients to develop more effective follow-up care programs tailored to patient needs.
For media inquiries or interviews with Paula Ruska or Dr. Laila Gharzai regarding National Cancer Survivor Month, contact Ben Schamisso at ben.schamisso@northwestern.edu.