Download the September/October 2013 Issue - Ocean Medical Center

Southern Ocean Medical Center
Living Life
to the Fullest
Julia Manhart doesn’t let much hold her
back. When the 82-year-old Barnegat
resident isn’t traveling to exotic
places, like Thailand or the Galápagos
Islands, she’s volunteering or serving
as president of the area’s American
Hungarian Cultural Club. But despite
her active life, Julia also battles chronic
lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL) — a type
of chronic leukemia that begins in the
bone marrow.
Julia was diagnosed with the
cancer seven years ago after a routine
mammogram showed an enlarged
lymph node. Further testing confirmed
she had CLL. Since then, Julia has been
treated by Southern Ocean Medical
Center’s oncology experts and, for the
past four years, has been under the care
of Jatin Desani, M.D., at Southern Ocean.
Julia Manhart and her husband,
Joseph, have been married for
63 years. In addition to travel,
Julia enjoys reading and being
involved with her church.
Living Well with Cancer
To prevent and treat symptoms like
fatigue, infection, fever, and night
sweats, Julia undergoes periodic
chemotherapy. She just finished
another six-month regimen of
chemotherapy followed by seven
days of injections to boost her
immune system. Miraculously, Julia
says she feels just fine.
“I attribute feeling well to the love,
prayers, and support of my beloved
family and wonderful friends and to
the excellent care by Dr. Desani,” Julia
says. “Dr. Desani keeps a close watch
on me through regular blood testing.
Before my cancer can make me sick,
he begins treatment.”
CLL, the most common type of
leukemia in adults, causes a buildup
of abnormal white blood cells.
This buildup leads to symptoms of
the disease and can interfere with
immune system and organ function.
Although there are many treatment
Jatin Desani, M.D.
Board certified in Hematology,
Oncology, Internal Medicine
Manahawkin • 609-597-0547
options for CLL, there’s no real cure.
Effective chemotherapy, however,
targets excess white blood cells to
help keep the blood at normal levels
and symptoms at bay. The use of
therapy to carefully balance blood
levels is why it’s so important to have
competent cancer care.
Personalized Treatment
“Our approach to therapy is tailored
to each patient’s unique situation
and needs,” Dr. Desani, part of
Meridian Cancer Care, explains. “The
goal is quality of life.”
Julia has undergone four rounds of
chemotherapy since her diagnosis, with
periods of remission in between. After
each therapy, she and her husband Joe
take a vacation together as a reward.
Their next stop? Possibly Israel.
“As long as I am well and can put
one foot in front of the other, I’m
going to live life to the fullest,” Julia
says. “I couldn’t be more grateful.”
MeridianHealth.com • 1-800-DOCTORS
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