Until March 16, 2012, Paul was busy leading a full life in Las Vegas as a husband, father and grandfather. A hospital CEO and healthcare consultant for over 30 years, Paul took great pride in doing everything in his power to keep active and stay healthy. His efforts seemed to be paying off as he felt great mentally and physically. However, a frightening medical diagnosis would soon change Paul’s journey through life.
In early March 2012, Paul went to see Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. David Silverberg, complaining of pain in his hip. Dr. Silverberg recommended a bone scan, and eventually a biopsy. The results of the biopsy revealed Paul had stage four lung cancer that had metastasized to his hip. This came as a huge shock to Paul because he had never been a smoker and had received a clean bill of health during a routine physical and chest X-ray just two weeks earlier. One month later, an MRI showed three brain lesions, indicating more metastases from his lung cancer.
“I had one life on March 15,” Paul said. “Then I started another life on March 16, which is the life you live focusing on getting well from lung cancer.”
Paul was referred to Radiation Oncologist Dr. Dan Curtis, who recommended treatment with the CyberKnife® System, a non-invasive highly targeted radiation treatment, for his brain tumors. Upon learning about the capability of the CyberKnife System to destroy his brain tumors while minimizing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue and cells, Paul felt confident it was his best option.
On April 23, 2012, Paul underwent just one treatment with the CyberKnife System at Las Vegas CyberKnife at Summerlin. The treatment lasted just under an hour and was so quiet and painless that Paul nearly fell asleep. Following the treatment, he felt so great that he and his wife went out to lunch to celebrate. On July 2, 2012, Paul had a follow-up MRI with Dr. Curtis. The MRI revealed a significant reduction in the size of his brain tumors and no new tumors. The CyberKnife System in combination with traditional radiation and medication which Paul received for his lung cancer and metastatic hip tumor helped put Paul back on track.
Today, Paul is extremely grateful for his good health and credits the CyberKnife treatment as a life-changing procedure.
Since his treatment, Paul has started a CaringBridge.com blog in hopes of giving inspiration to other patients dealing with cancer. He sees his, life post-treatment, as a new chapter, and he aspires to do three things with his new life: turn his blog into a book, inspire others about the new lease on life that comes with overcoming adversity and create a foundation to foster the early-detection of cancer.
As of the creation of this patient profile, Paul found his CyberKnife treatment to be successful.
