Deb Harden, 67, of East Petersburg, Pa., learned she had cancer in her small intestine in the fall of 2023.
Thanks to treatment at the nearby UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Central Pa., Deb says she is cancer-free and feeling strong.
A Cancer Diagnosis
Deb started having abdominal cramps and pain in 2023.
While celebrating with family on Thanksgiving, Deb’s pain became severe, and she headed to the nearby UPMC Lititz Emergency Department. There, a CT scan and endoscopy revealed she had a tumor on her duodenum, a part of the small intestine.
The emergency department then referred her to Kyo Chu, MD, a surgical oncologist at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Mechanicsburg, Pa. The location was a 45-minute drive from Deb’s residence in East Petersburg.
At her consultation, Dr. Chu recommended that Deb undergo Whipple surgery. The Whipple is a complex procedure that removes part of the pancreas and nearby organs and reroutes the pancreas to the small intestine.
The Whipple’s goal is to fully remove the cancer to prevent it from growing and spreading to other organs.
“Dr. Chu explained things and gave me diagrams,” Deb says. “He made sure I had my questions answered.”
Complex Cancer Care in Cumberland County
In January 2024, Dr. Chu performed the Whipple, assisted by surgical oncologist Samer AlMasri, MD, at UPMC West Shore in Mechanicsburg. Dr. Chu removed Deb’s duodenum, the tumor, 20 lymph nodes, and parts of her stomach and pancreas.
Afterward, Deb recovered in the ICU. As a former medical professional, Deb was impressed by the compassionate care Dr. Chu and his team provided.
“They treated me like I mattered to them,” she says. “Everyone was caring and helpful.
“I could tell Dr. Chu was genuinely concerned for my welfare. He would visit me in the hospital, and he listened to me. His team of nurses and interns would ask me questions.”
Deb spent three weeks recovering at her daughter’s home. Dr. Chu then referred her to Naeem Latif, MD, a medical oncologist at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Lititz.
Under Dr. Latif’s treatment plan, Deb underwent three sessions of chemotherapy to kill any remaining cancer cells.
Three months after her surgery, Deb followed up with Dr. Chu and continued to do so for one year. Now, she sees him every six months.
“The nurses in the office have always been available to answer my questions,” she says. “I spoke to Laura, the nurse navigator, quite a bit, and she was very gracious with all my questions.”
Deb returns to Dr. Latif’s office every three months for a custom-designed blood test that detects circulating tumor DNA. This test can identify recurrent cancer earlier.
Living Cancer-Free
“The test results have been negative — so right now, I claim to be cancer-free,” Deb says. “I’m feeling very good. I feel blessed to have been part of the UPMC team. I’ve praised UPMC and the different facilities I’ve been in, and I’ve always received excellent care.”
Deb adds that a positive attitude and prayers from family, friends, and her church uplifted her during treatment and her recovery.
“Dr. Chu always stressed that having a positive attitude is important, and that’s been beneficial,” she says. “He said, ‘The better attitude you have, the healing will follow, and it will be part of your progression.’”
Deb is following his advice. As a full-time RVer, she’s looking forward to returning to traveling with her husband and spending time with her grandkids in Lancaster.
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on , and was last reviewed on .