Kevin Scarlett survived a rare throat cancer. He shares his story on

The Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute at Memorial University Medical Center
Inside the ACI
Excellence in cancer care through research, education, and treatment. | Spring 2014
aci.memorialhealth.com
Kevin Scarlett survived
a rare throat cancer.
He shares his story
on page 10.
Experience Excellence.
Cancer in the head, neck, and lungs
By Guy Petruzzelli, M.D., Ph.D., MBA, FACS
PHYSICIAN-IN-CHIEF, CURTIS AND ELIZABETH ANDERSON CANCER INSTITUTE
This issue of Inside the ACI highlights our multi-disciplinary programs for lung cancer and
head and neck cancer. An important similarity between lung and head and neck cancer is
their relationship with tobacco. The negative health consequences of smoking cannot be
over-stressed. In the U.S., tobacco use is responsible for 1 in 5 deaths; 8.6 million people suffer
from chronic respiratory or cardiovascular conditions; and smoking-related illnesses cost us
billions of dollars in lost wages, reduced productivity, and preventable medical expenses.
It’s been 50 years since the surgeon general ordered warning labels be placed on all
cigarette packages. Since then, we have seen significant improvements in reducing the
incidence of lung and some head and neck cancers. Unfortunately, 1 in 5 Americans
continues to use tobacco. Smoking is beginning at a young age, with 20 percent of high
school students using tobacco. Annual cancer deaths related to smoking remain significant
for patients with lung, esophagus, oropharynx, and larynx cancers. The best way to
reduce the risk of lung cancer is to never start using tobacco, and if you do use it, quit.
Recently the United States Preventive
Services Task Force approved the use of a
More than 50,000 Americans
low-dose CT scan to screen at-risk patients
are diagnosed with cancers of
for lung cancer. If you are a current or
the mouth, throat, or larynx
former smoker, you can call 912-350-LUNG
to schedule a lung cancer screening.
and an additional 60,000 are
See page 4 for more information.
diagnosed with thyroid
Tumors of the head and neck can
cancer each year.
develop in the throat, larynx (voice box),
nose, sinuses, mouth, tongue, salivaproducing glands, thyroid, and parathyroid glands. More than 50,000 Americans are
diagnosed with cancers of the mouth, throat or larynx and an additional 60,000 are
diagnosed with thyroid cancer each year.
Head and neck cancer deaths have decreased over the past 20 years, and head and
neck cancers due to smoking are decreasing. However, we are seeing an increase in the
number of head and neck cancers related to infection with the human papillomavirus
(HPV). Treatment often requires a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.
Our cancer treatment program, in collaboration with the physicians of Summit Cancer
Care, provides inpatient and outpatient chemotherapy and radiation. Using the stateof-the-art TrueBeam radiation therapy platform, we offer intensity modulated radiation
therapy. This precisely targeted radiation allows us to preserve salivary function and
dramatically reduce long-term side effects.
In our lung and head and neck programs, we emphasize a multidisciplinary approach
to care so every patient benefits from the combined expertise of an experienced team
that meets regularly to discuss each patient’s care and progress. We encourage patients
and their loved ones to participate in a wide range of complementary and alternative
treatments, including support groups, nutritional counseling, massage, and more.
Please contact me directly with any thoughts or concerns regarding our
programs. I can be reached at [email protected].
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Low-dose CT recommended
to screen for lung cancer
Too often, lung cancer is not detected until it has reached an advanced stage. This makes it the leading cause of cancer
death in our country. However, when the disease is caught early, it may be successfully treated with surgery. For years,
researchers have been looking for a reliable screening tool for lung cancer. The National Cancer Institute’s National
Lung Screening Trial discovered that low-dose computer tomography (CT) scans can detect non-small cell lung tumors
at an early stage. Based on this information, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently began recommending
annual low-dose CT screening for people who meet specific criteria.
The greatest risk factor for lung cancer is smoking. The likelihood of getting lung cancer increases with age and
ongoing exposure to tobacco smoke. While low-dose CT scanning is not a substitute for quitting smoking, it does provide
a better chance of catching the disease when it can be treated with surgery or other interventions. The Curtis and Elizabeth
Anderson Cancer Institute at Memorial University Medical Center offers low-dose CT for lung cancer screening for just
$150. There is no referral needed. To request an appointment or learn more, call 912-350-LUNG (5864).
You may be a candidate
for low-dose CT lung
cancer screening
if you meet the
following criteria:
Age 55-74 years
30 pack-year history
of smoking or greater.
(A pack-year refers to the number of
cigarettes smoked per day for a year.
Smoking one pack per day for 30 years
equates to 30 pack-years. Smoking two
packs a day for 30 years equates to 60
pack-years. Smoking a half-pack a day
for 30 years equates to 15 pack-years.)
If you’re an ex-smoker, you’ve quit
within the past 15 years.
Or: Age 50 or older
20 pack-year smoking history.
One additional risk factor, including COPD
or pulmonary fibrosis; radon exposure;
occupational exposure to asbestos, silica,
cadmium, arsenic, beryllium, chromium,
diesel fumes, or nickel; personal history
of cancer; or family history of cancer.
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Cancer screening
guidelines
There are nearly 14 million cancer survivors living in the United States. Survival rates are climbing, thanks
in part to better screening and early detection. While we don’t have screening tools to catch every type
of cancer early, the tests that we do have are very effective and save countless lives every year.
The information below provides general screening guidelines. Screening varies based on your
personal and family history, so talk to your doctor about the schedule that’s best for you.
G EN ER A L C ANC ER SC REENI N G
Beginning at age 20, all men and women should have an
annual physical that includes an examination of the
mouth, skin, lymph nodes, and testes or ovaries.
/ Breast Cancer
Beginning at age 40, women should have a mammogram and clinical
breast exam every year for as long as they are in good health.
To schedule a mammogram, call 912-350-PINK (7465).
- Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam every three years.
- Women should conduct monthly breast self-exams beginning in their 20s.
/ Colorectal Cancer
Beginning at age 50, men and women should have a colonoscopy
every 10 years or have one of the following:
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
- Double-contrast barium enema every 5 years
- CT colonography every 5 years
/ Cervical Cancer
- At age 21, women should have their first cervical cancer screening test.
- From age 21 to 29, women should have a Pap test every 3 years.
- From age 30 to 65, women should have a Pap test and HPV test every
5 years (preferred) or continue to have a Pap test alone every 3 years.
- Women over age 65 who have a history of normal Pap and cervical
cancer test results can discontinue screening.
/ Lung Cancer
See the recently updated screening guidelines on page 4.
To schedule a lung cancer screening, call 912-350-LUNG (5864).
/ Prostate Cancer
Starting at age 50, men should talk with their
doctor about having an annual PSA blood test
with or without a rectal exam. African-American
men and men with a family history of prostate
cancer should begin screening at age 45.
5
Felishia Finch, lung cancer
survivor, and her dog, Jack.
Felishia Finch
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Living, laughing, and loving
through lung cancer
In the weeks leading up to her 43rd birthday, Felishia
Finch of Claxton was not feeling well. She was tired
and found it difficult to breathe. She thought maybe
she had pneumonia. Her boyfriend insisted she go to
the doctor. An X-ray revealed a spot on Finch’s lung.
She was quickly referred to the Curtis and Elizabeth
Anderson Cancer Institute (ACI) at Memorial University
Medical Center in Savannah.
“I was bald and green!
But I never wore a hat
or a scarf. I showed
my bald head because
I was proud to be alive.”
Finch was diagnosed with non-small cell lung
cancer. She was told a 6-centimeter tumor had already
destroyed half of her right lung. And the tumor had
fingers that wrapped around her pulmonary artery.
Finch received this news on April 11, 2006 – her birthday.
“It was a shock. It brought me to my knees. I felt
like I was walking around with a time bomb inside of
me,” said Finch.
The first step in Finch’s treatment was surgery. But
because the tumor was wrapped around her pulmonary
artery, it could not be removed. Instead, Finch received
30 radiation treatments to her chest and three rounds of
chemotherapy drugs. The treatments did nothing to shrink
the tumor. Finch was told she had four years to live.
“I didn’t ask God why. I just asked him to help me,”
said Finch.
She was not about to give up – this was a battle
and she was going to fight. Finch stopped looking at
lung cancer information online, because it was too
depressing. She resolved to enjoy every moment with
her boyfriend and her daughter. During that same
period, she re-established a relationship with her
father, even though they had been estranged for
years. He went with her to every treatment.
“Looking back, cancer was a blessing to me,
because it brought my daddy back to me,” said Finch.
She received more chemotherapy, including a grueling
treatment of three drugs that required an eight-hour
infusion each time.
“I was bald and green! But I never wore a hat or a
scarf. I showed my bald head because I was proud
to be alive,” said Finch.
One day after a difficult treatment, Finch’s
boyfriend surprised her with a tiny Jack Russell terrier
puppy. Finch was thrilled. She named the puppy Jack
and she says he was the best therapy she could have
asked for.
Finch continued the cycle of treatments and scans
at the ACI. She and her dad would often crack jokes
in the ACI waiting room and try to make the other
patients laugh. Finch made it her mission to spread
happiness and hope.
In August 2008, Finch was in her doctor’s office
waiting to hear the results of her latest lung scan.
Her doctor delivered wonderful news – the tumor
was now just scar tissue. She had beaten the odds.
She was a cancer survivor.
“I could not have asked for anything better in my
treatment. The ACI made my walk through this disease
a lot easier,” said Finch.
On April 11, Finch celebrated her 51st birthday. Since
beating lung cancer, she and her boyfriend have gotten
married. She was blessed with a beautiful grandson.
She helped her dad through prostate cancer treatment.
She continues to receive unconditional love from Jack.
And she’s growing her hair long for Locks of Love, an
organization that uses donated hair to make hairpieces
for children who are bald from medical treatment. Best
of all, she remains cancer free.
“For me, every day is a blessing. I thank God every
night,” said Finch.
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Our head and neck
cancer program
The term “head and neck cancer” is used to describe
several different types of cancer that may form in the
head or neck but are not related to the brain or spinal
column. Head and neck cancers typically begin in the
cells that line the inside of the mouth, the nose, and the
throat. They can affect the lips, tongue, gums, cheeks,
the pharynx (the hollow tube that runs from the nose
to the esophagus), the voice box, the sinus cavities, the
salivary glands, and other cells in the head and neck.
The Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute
(ACI) at Memorial University Medical Center offers a
head and neck cancer program led by renowned
otolaryngologist and surgeon Guy Petruzzelli, M.D., Ph.D.,
MBA., FACS. Petruzzelli also serves as physician-in-chief
of the ACI and vice president of oncology programs.
He has fellowship training in head and neck surgery
and specializes in traditional and robotic-assisted
surgical techniques.
“[Head and neck surgery] is challenging because
everything we do as head and neck surgeons, people
can see. You can’t hide your work. So you need to be
very, very skilled and pay a lot of attention to your
surgical technique and your surgical expertise when
you take care of patients with tumors in that area,”
said Petruzzelli.
Many head and neck cancers are linked to tobacco
use, alcohol use, and the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Head and neck cancers account for 3 percent of all
cancers diagnosed in the U.S. each year, and are more
common in men and in people over age 50.
Symptoms of head and
neck cancer may include:
- A sore throat or cough that does not go away
- A lump in the neck or the sensation of a lump
in the throat
- Hoarseness or voice change
- Frequent choking on food or pain when swallowing
- Ear pain that does not go away
- Trouble breathing or noisy breathing
- A lip or mouth sore that does not heal
- A white or red patch or lump on the gums, tongue,
or lining of the mouth
- Unusual numbness or pain in the mouth, jaw, or neck
- Weight loss, excessive perspiration, nervousness, or
heart palpitations that have no known explanation
- Unexplained changes in your hair or skin
If you experience any of these symptoms, tell your
doctor. If you are diagnosed with a head and neck cancer,
ask for a referral to the head and neck services at the ACI.
You can learn more at aci.memorialhealth.com.
Head and neck cancer
support group
Research has shown that support groups can enhance the quality
of life for people with cancer. They do this by providing information,
education, and an opportunity to share your experiences with
people who understand what you’re going through.
The Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute at Memorial
University Medical Center hosts a head and neck cancer support group
for cancer patients and their caregivers. The group meets monthly
on the third Wednesday of the month at 2 p.m. in the ACI conference
room. Each session includes a discussion with medical professionals
and a group discussion.
For more information about the program, call 912-350-7845.
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Cancer care close to home
Memorial University Medical Center serves people in
35 counties spanning two states. To make our services more
accessible to people outside of Savannah, the Curtis and Elizabeth
Anderson Cancer Institute established a number of satellite offices.
When you make your appointment, ask if there is an office
near you. Our regional offices include:
G EO RG IA
Brunswick | 912-350-2299
3226 Hampton Avenue, Suite F
James Burke II, M.D., gynecologic oncologist
Claxton | 912-350-2299
405 East Long Street
Robert Jones, M.D., cardiothoracic surgeon
Jesup | 912-350-2700
Jesup Medical Office
131 Peachtree Street
Ray Rudolph, M.D., MPH, breast surgeon
Richmond Hill | 912-350-2700
Ways Station Shopping Center
3776 Highway 17
Paula DeNitto, M.D., breast surgeon
Statesboro | 912-350-2299
23630 Highway 80 East, Unit B
James Burke II, M.D., gynecologic oncologist
Scott Purinton, M.D., Ph.D., gynecologic oncologist
Elena Rehl, M.D., breast surgeon
SO UT H C AR OL IN A
Okatie | 912-350-2299
14 Okatie Center Boulevard South, Suite 100
Robert Jones, M.D., cardiothoracic surgeon
Scott Purinton, M.D., Ph.D.,
gynecologic oncologist
Christopher Senkowski, M.D.,
gastrointestinal surgeon
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Across the state and back again:
One man’s quest to find the best
cancer treatment in Georgia
Kevin Scarlett has big plans for the year. The 34-year-old
Savannah resident and his wife, Morphia, are raising four
children – ages 11, 8, and 5-year-old twins. He plans to
start an organization that raises awareness and funds
for head and neck cancers. And he’s learning to speak
again after his own harrowing battle with cancer.
Scarlett has spindle cell sarcoma, a type of cancer that
attacks the connective tissues in his throat. His cancer
journey began in October 2012 with a sore throat that
would not go away. One morning, he began coughing up
blood and tissue. He drove himself to the emergency
room at Effingham County Hospital. The doctor sent a
sample of coughed-up tissue to a lab for testing and told
Scarlett to visit an ear, nose, and throat specialist (ENT).
In the four days leading up to his ENT appointment, Scarlett
began to have trouble breathing. He felt as if he was in a
continuous chokehold.
The ENT discovered a blockage in Scarlett’s throat
that looked like a tumor. He referred Scarlett for a PET
scan at a nearby imaging center in Pooler. By this time,
Scarlett was having trouble breathing and talking. He was
about to begin the PET scan when his doctor received the
pathology report from the first tissue mass collected in the
emergency room. It was spindle cell cancer and Scarlett
needed to be admitted to the hospital immediately.
“My first thought was, how was I going to tell my
wife,” said Scarlett. “I texted her and told her I needed her
to be strong. I asked her to find someone to watch the
kids and to contact my doctor immediately.”
On November 5, Scarlett had surgery at a Savannah
hospital to remove the tumor in his throat. At first, the
problem seemed to be solved. He was not referred for
any additional cancer treatment. But within a month,
Scarlett began feeling the same discomfort. Another tumor
had grown in his throat. He had a second surgery on
January 15, 2013. Within a month, yet another tumor grew.
Spindle cell sarcoma is rare, and Scarlett’s treatment
options were limited. But he was determined to find the
best treatment and the best doctor. Scarlett contacted
the American Cancer Society and asked them to recommend treatment centers in Georgia. He visited hospitals
in Augusta and Atlanta, but he knew in his heart that
these facilities were not right for him. Scarlett instead
spent two weeks at a holistic treatment center in north
Georgia called Wildwood Lifestyle Center.
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“At Wildwood, I learned how to help my body heal
with the right balance of diet and exercise. I became a
vegetarian and this decision helped in the healing and
recovery process for me,” said Scarlett.
Scarlett felt rejuvenated and empowered, even
though the tumor in his throat was growing rapidly.
He decided to have a total laryngectomy at Emory
Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta. Then his doctor at
Emory recommended he visit a highly trained expert,
Guy Petruzzelli, M.D., Ph.D., MBA, FACS, from the Curtis and
Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute (ACI) at Memorial
University Medical Center in Savannah. Within 24 hours,
Scarlett, his wife, and his children were back at home in
coastal Georgia, sitting in Petruzzelli’s office.
I was referred to Augusta, and sought
treatment in Atlanta, only to discover
that the best treatment for me was
right at home in Savannah.
“Dr. Petruzzelli made my family feel very comfortable because he took the time to speak with the kids in
a way they could understand. I felt a world of relief to
finally be able to relax and focus on healing and the
next phase of my cancer treatment,” said Scarlett. “I was
referred to Augusta, and sought treatment in Atlanta,
only to discover that the best treatment for me was
right at home in Savannah.”
On April 11, 2013, Petruzzelli performed a total
laryngectomy on Scarlett. The complex procedure
involves removing the entire larynx (voice box). Scarlett
would have to learn a new way to speak. Petruzzelli
created an opening in Scarlett’s neck, called a stoma,
which he uses to breathe. After surgery, Scarlett had
six weeks of radiation treatment at the ACI under the
direction of Aaron Pederson, M.D. He credits the team
at the ACI with helping him get through the treatment.
“Their consistent positive energy and compassion
motivated me each day to wake up and drive in for my
treatment,” said Scarlett. He also derives strength from
his faith and the prayers and support of many people.
Today, Scarlett is ready to move on. He received a
prosthetic device to help him speak. He continues to live
a healthy lifestyle and wants to help others by raising
awareness about head and neck cancers. He offers the
following advice for anybody diagnosed with cancer:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Realize that cancer is something that is bigger than
you, so embrace having a team of people around you
to guide you through it.
Ask questions, learn as much as you can, and be
honest with your doctors about the lifestyle choices
you make.
Join support groups, either online or through the ACI.
Appreciate your caretakers and realize that this
experience is affecting them too.
Drink three cups of patience each day. You’re going
to need it.
Stay stress-free as much as possible. This may mean
limiting your contact with negative people. Stress
affects your immune system.
Enjoy each and every day to the fullest. Carpe diem!
Kevin Scarlett
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NON-PROFIT
U . S . P O S TA G E
4700 WATERS AVENUE
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA 31404
PAID
SAVANNAH, GA
PERMIT NO. 499
Your gift makes a difference
You can support the Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute (ACI) by making a taxdeductible gift to the Memorial Health Foundation. Gifts to the Foundation help purchase
leading-edge technology, fund the ACI’s nurse navigator program, help fund a music therapy
program provided by the Savannah Philharmonic, and more.
In addition, the Foundation has patient assistance funds
that help improve the quality of life for people with
cancer. These programs provide fuel cards to ensure
that patients can get to their chemotherapy and
radiation treatments. They help pay for anti-nausea
medicines and massage therapy to help patients
cope with the side effects of treatment. These funds
also provide counseling, mammograms for women
in need, and genetic testing assistance.
Gifts of all sizes are appreciated and make a difference.
To learn more, please contact Anne Cordeiro at the
Memorial Health Foundation at 912-350-8934 or
[email protected].