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MeridianHealth.com • 1-800-DOCTORS
Jersey Shore University Medical Center
Young Athlete Thrives
After Rare Tumor
Twenty-year-old Paige Truax
has always maintained an
energetic, healthy lifestyle
through her love of sports, particularly
swimming. But while spending the
holidays in Howell after her first
semester of college, Paige felt tired,
and she noticed her stomach seemed
unusually large and swollen.
On December 10, 2011, she went
to Jersey Shore University Medical
Center, where ultrasound tests
revealed a large cyst on one of
her ovaries. Paige was immediately
admitted for emergency surgery, and
the cyst was successfully removed
using minimally invasive techniques.
Her journey didn’t end there,
however. A biopsy of the cyst
showed that it was an immature
teratoma, a rare type of cancer that
often occurs in young women.
Finding the Right Surgeon
Paige was overwhelmed by the
diagnosis, but Karim ElSahwi, M.D.,
a gynecologic oncologist affiliated
with Meridian Cancer Care, quickly
eased much of her anxiety.
“Dr. ElSahwi explained everything
in a positive way that made me feel
comfortable,” she says. “By the end
of our first meeting, he made me feel
confident that I was going to be fine.”
The next step was removing the
ovary and determining if Paige’s
cancer had spread. Dr. ElSahwi
determined that he could perform
the necessary surgical procedure using
the da Vinci® robotic surgical system,
a minimally invasive treatment option
with many advantages.
“The da Vinci robot enables surgeons
to perform complex procedures
through smaller incisions, resulting in
less pain and blood loss, minimal
scarring, a faster recovery
Karim ElSahwi, M.D.
Gynecologic Oncology
Neptune • 732-897-7944
time, and fewer complications,”
explains Dr. ElSahwi.
Advanced Techniques
Promote Healing
On the morning of January 5, Paige
was back at Jersey Shore. “The day of
the surgery, I wasn’t scared,” she says,
“especially since the team at Jersey
Shore took great care of me for my
first surgery.”
The surgery was a success, and Paige
remained in the recovery room for only
a few hours, feeling great and ready to
head home. Luckily, her cancer had not
spread beyond the ovary, and she then
began three cycles of chemotherapy
on an outpatient basis. “Chemotherapy
was the hardest thing I’ve ever gone
through,” she says.
“Paige was given a lot on her table,”
Dr. ElSahwi notes. “She and her family
handled everything exceptionally well.”
Today, Paige is excited to be
moving forward with school, and
she has a new outlook on life. “I’ve
realized that the most important
things are my health and my family’s
health.” • — Kris Tranquilino
After successful treatment for a rare type of cancer, Paige Truax
is moving forward with her life, including spending time with
friends and family on the beach in Avon.
Get the Facts About the Surgery of the Future
For more information about robotic surgery with Karim ElSahwi, M.D.,
visit JerseyShoreUniversityMedicalCenter.com/robotics.
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