From Diagnosticsto Treatmentto RecoveryFCHC’s Rolein the <strong>Health</strong>of OthersFighting Breast CancerRadiologist MichaelPole, MD, sayscommunicationbetween physiciansis key to patientcare.It was October of 2010, and KristySnyder needed just one more point to meetthe requirements of her employer’s WellnessProgram. If she did so, she would qualifyfor a discount on her health insurancepremium. Little did Snyder know that thepursuit of that single point would ultimatelysave her life.As the Human Resources Director for<strong>Fulton</strong> <strong>County</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Center</strong>, Snyder is abusy person. “We were coming up on theend of the year, and work was hectic,”recalls Snyder. “I realized that I could makeup that one point by getting my routineannual mammogram, something I hadbeen putting off.” But Snyder had anotherincentive to get the mammogram andmake her points. As FCHC’s HR Director,she needed to set an example for otheremployees to meet the stipulations of theWellness Program.Her digitalmammogramwas scheduledin the FCHCRadiologyDepartmentfor December7th. During themammogram,Michael Pole, MD, FCHC Board CertifiedRadiologist, noticed something suspicious.He suggested that Snyder have a stereotactic/mammotome core breast biopsy at the<strong>Health</strong> <strong>Center</strong>. Two days later the biopsy wasperformed and sent to the <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Center</strong>’s labfor analysis. On December 10th Snyder gotthe news that she had breast cancer.When Snyder heard the words, “You havecancer,” her husband immediately met her atthe office of Ron Music, MD, Snyder’s familydoctor. Dr. Music conferred with Dr. Poleand, together, they agreed that a lumpectomyshould be done. On December 15th the2Kristy Snyder(right), performs herduties as the <strong>Health</strong><strong>Center</strong>’s HumanResources Directorthanks to the helpshe received fromFCHC physiciansand other healthprofessionals.lumpectomy was performed at FCHC by JoseParodi, MD, General Surgeon. Unfortunately,the procedure showed that Snyder hadStage 1, non-aggressive cancer.“Within a week I had gone from feelinghealthy and busy at work to having Stage 1breast cancer,” says Snyder. “It was quite ablow, as you would imagine it would be foranyone.”After recovering from the lumpectomy,Snyder met with Kenneth Krupp, MD,Oncologist/Hematologist at the FCHCRainbow Hematology/Oncology Treatment<strong>Center</strong>. Dr. Krupp prescribed four rounds
of chemotherapy every three weeks for a totalof 12 weeks of treatment, which occurred inthe early part of 2011. The next step was todecide if she would have radiation therapy or abilateral mastectomy. “Dr. Parodi recommendedthat I visit a plastic surgeon in Toledo, whodescribed the procedure in great detail,” saysSnyder. “Then I had to decide between themastectomy and the radiation.” The choicewasn’t easy, and Snyder admits to going backand forth. “My husband reminded me that I hadalways said if I developed cancer I would wantit out of me, so that helpedme decide on having themastectomy.”Fast forward to today,and Snyder is cancer free.She must have an MRIperformed every two years atthe <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Center</strong>. In 2012,the MRI found a suspiciousspot, and Dr. Music and Dr.Pole debated between herhaving another biopsy and asimple ultrasound. Dr. Polewas convinced the spot was merely a lymphnode that had shifted during surgery. So Snyderelected to have the ultrasound and to keep aneye on the spot, which has not changed. “It wasa matter of trusting my doctors and making surethey talked to one another so we were all on thesame page. They didn’t let me down in 2010,why would they now?” says Snyder.In addition to the MRIs, Snyder regularlyvisits Dr. Krupp, her Oncologist, for follow-upcare. Each time she has lab work performed atFCHC. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciatethe bedside manner of all my medicalprofessionals,” says Snyder. “Dr. Pole, Dr.Music, Dr. Parodi and all the nurses, radiologytechs and lab professionals … they treated mewith respect and dignity during the course of mydiagnosis and care. It’s as if I was one of theirfamily members.”Snyder says that even though she’s an FCHCemployee, that good bedside manner of FCHCphysicians and staff is obvious to others whohave no affiliation with the <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Center</strong>. “Ibelong to a breast cancer support group, andthe women in the group who have had theirmedical procedures performed at FCHC haveexpressed similar sentiments about the staff’sprofessionalism and respect for patients. It’sjust something that’s part of the culture here.”Dealing with Cystic FibrosisTonya Gomez was born with Cystic Fibrosis,a chronic hereditary disease that causes thick,sticky mucus to build up in the lungs, digestivetract and other parts of the body. In collegeshe was further diagnosed as having diabetes.But the diseases didn’t slow her down. Gomezgraduated with a Bachelors Degree in HumanEcology with a specialization in Dietetics. InJanuary of 2002 she began working at FCHC asa Clinical Nutrition Manager. It was the sameyear she was married. By fall 2003 her lungshad deteriorated to the point that she neededa double lung transplant in order to survive.Gomez was placed on the Cleveland Clinic’stransplant list in December 2003.“At the time I was told I needed to go througha Respiratory Therapy program to help mebe as strong as possible for the transplantsurgery,” says Gomez. “FCHC didn’t havea Respiratory Therapy program, but staffmembers in the Cardiac Rehab Departmentstepped forward and created a program for meusing the department’s treadmills and otherequipment.” Over the next five months, Gomezworked three days a week to strengthen herlungs.“While I was waiting for the call from theClinic that a match had been found, I neededto have all kinds of medical tests performed,”says Gomez. “So I utilized many of the servicesof the <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Center</strong>’s Radiology and LaboratoryDepartments.” She had all of her blood drawnand analyzed at the <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Center</strong> along withher mammogram, colonoscopy, and bonedensity screenings.On May 25, 2004 Gomez got the call from theCleveland Clinic that a match had been foundand she would need to hurry to Cleveland forthe lung transplant. “Initially they didn’t know ifit was a definite match, but it was close enoughto get the wheels in motion and have me drivethere,” says Gomez. By 5:30 p.m. it was verifiedthat the match was perfect, and the six-hourdouble lung transplant surgery began at 7:30p.m. “I went into the surgery with only 19%lung function,” says Gomez. “I came out withlungs that were a perfect fit and which wereworking at 100% capacity.”Tonya Gomez (left) has two healthy lungsnow and can function as FCHC's ClinicalNutrition Manager.Three days were spent in the ClevelandClinic’s Intensive Care Unit, followed by1-1/2 weeks in the hospital. Another 2-1/2weeks were spent at the Clinic’s hospitalityunit, as Gomez had to be nearby in case ofcomplications.Today, Tonya Gomez is living a relativelynormal life with the help of daily antirejectionmedication. The drugs put herat higher risk for multiple cancers. Soshe must undergo routine chest X-rayson a regular basis, along with an annualmammogram, a colonoscopy every twoyears, and an MRI when needed. “I haveall of those tests done at <strong>Fulton</strong> <strong>County</strong><strong>Health</strong> <strong>Center</strong>,” says Gomez. Eric Lehman,MD, her primary care physician, keeps aclose eye on test results.“As much as I have to be pokedand scanned, I’m glad for the medicalprofessionals here at the <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Center</strong>who are professional, respectful andkind,” says Gomez. “Not everyone knowsI’m a staff member, and I am alwaystreated with dignity.” (Continued on page 4)3
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