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Southern Ocean Medical Center
Enjoying the
Sweet Life
With the support of his wife, Louise, and his cancer care team at Southern Ocean, Bob
Padovano is living the life he loves, helping his son run Big Apple Bakery, in Manahawkin.
Again After Prostate Cancer
MeridianHealth.com • 1-800-DOCTORS
Bob Padovano’s warm greeting is as sweet as the
goodies in his local bakery. After spending more
than 36 years on Wall Street, Bob left the Big Apple
in 1989 to help his son, Robert, run Big Apple Bakery,
which they started in 1983 in Surf City and which now
operates out of Manahawkin. He has continued to help
run the family business ever since.
But in 2009, things suddenly weren’t quite as sweet. As
part of an annual physical, Bob took a prostate-specific
antigen (PSA) test. The results were abnormal, so he went
to see Charles Fernicola, M.D., a urologist at Southern
Ocean Medical Center. Dr. Fernicola diagnosed him with
early prostate cancer.
“You just sit back and say ‘Whoa,’” Bob says. “But
Dr. Fernicola discussed possible treatment alternatives
with me and really helped me understand my options.”
Together they decided that Bob would see a radiation
oncologist next, and that was Joseph Lattanzi, M.D., who is
affiliated with Southern Ocean and Meridian Cancer Care.
“When I met with him, he said, ‘We can handle this,’” Bob
says. “There is not enough I can say about the fantastic
care I received in Dr. Lattanzi’s office. They are wonderful.”
“Bob was treated with the latest radiation techniques,
including intensity-modulated radiation therapy with
image guidance, which allowed us to more accurately
target the cancer and spare healthy tissue,” explains
Dr. Lattanzi. “These techniques have truly revolutionized
the treatment of prostate cancer by improving outcomes
and reducing toxicity.”
Joseph P. Lattanzi, M.D.
Board certified in Radiation Oncology
Manahawkin • 609-978-2194
It has been nearly four years since Bob completed
his 45 treatment sessions — each one took only about
15 minutes — and he is doing wonderfully.
“Bob was a great patient with a great outlook,” says
Dr. Lattanzi. “About halfway through his radiation
treatment, I learned that after the treatments, he went
back to work each day.”
“I’m a firm believer in getting a PSA test,” says Bob. “It’s
such a nominal thing to do. And I try to help others in the
same situation as mine. On occasion, Dr. Lattanzi will have
someone drop by to see me, and I can reassure them. It’s
great when they stop by a year later and let me know they
did great with their treatment as well.”
Today, Bob says, “I just love sitting on my Surf City deck
and relaxing with those close to me — my family and
friends — enjoying the sweet life.” • — Joyce McFadden
Watch More Survivors Tell Their Stories
Hear Jim Sandor, Karen Piche, and Joyce Abrams
talk about their experiences with cancer care at
Southern Ocean at MeridianCancerCareNJ.com.
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