Lifetime Nurse from Easton Is Grateful Patient:
Kathy Dykeman and Her Dad Are Cancer Survivors Following Treatment at Commonwealth Atrius Cancer Center
 |
| Kathy Dykeman, RN, and her dad, Sam Connell |
Kathy Dykeman, RN, a 53-year-old resident of Easton and native of Stoughton, always wanted to join the nursing profession. Working as a hospital case manager as well as a VNA and hospice nurse, she knows what it takes to make patients and their families feel comfortable—and she gets great satisfaction being a care-giver. But she didn’t know what to expect when she and family members found themselves needing critical medical attention.
“Nothing is more important to me than the health of my family,” says Kathy. “And I guess we’ve had our share of medical challenges.”
Kathy was close with two of her aunts who overcame breast cancer before they died several years ago. More recently, in the span of one year, cancer hit even closer to home: Kathy’s husband had surgery for prostate cancer, her father had surgery and radiation treatment for bladder cancer, and she learned she had breast cancer.
In December of 2007, Kathy’s dad, Sam Connell of Stoughton, went to see his local urologist, who diagnosed him with bladder cancer and referred him to a community hospital for surgery. Then, for post-op treatment, he was referred to Commonwealth Atrius Cancer Center in Weymouth. There, Kathy and Sam consulted with Dr. Claire Y. Fung, Director of Radiation Oncology, about what treatment option—radiation or chemotherapy—would be best to promote his quality of life.
After they agreed on radiation therapy, Kathy and other family members drove their father for treatments at Commonwealth Atrius Cancer Center five days a week for seven weeks, a quick, 10-minute drive from their homes. During that time, they became very friendly with the staff at the Cancer Center.
“I know firsthand what good care is all about,” says Kathy, “and it is clear that they provide outstanding clinical care at Commonwealth Atrius Cancer Center. But what impressed me the most was that they treated us like family. It can be tough to impress my dad, but he is very grateful, and we’re thrilled that he’s doing well.”
Nurse Turns Patient
While Kathy was helping to care for her dad, she didn’t think much about herself. Kathy had always maintained a healthy lifestyle: no smoking, good diet, and regular exercise. But in the back of her mind, she knew she might be genetically predisposed to cancer, and she was vigilant about prevention and early detection.
Two months after her father finished his radiation treatment, Kathy went for her annual mammogram. Based on the results, Kathy was referred to a downtown Boston hospital, where they did a biopsy, confirmed breast cancer, and subsequently performed microsurgery.
“Following surgery,” Kathy recalls, “we discussed the next step, which was radiation treatment. Well, there was no question in my mind about where I was going. When I mentioned Dr. Fung at Commonwealth Atrius Cancer Center, the doctors who completed my surgery clearly approved and said how highly regarded she is.”
When Kathy returned to Commonwealth Atrius Cancer Center, this time as a patient, she recalls being greeted “like an old friend.”
“Radiation treatment is obviously very serious business,” says Kathy, “and it was so comforting to know I was in good hands. I felt confident and totally trusting based on my past experience there. I knew of the Cancer Center’s reputation, but I had no idea that Dr. Fung is actually rated as one of the best doctors in the country. I also didn’t realize that the level of technology there is the most advanced in the area.”
Kathy was “in awe” regarding the state-of-the-art treatment known as Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), which involves the transmission of high-dose, precisely targeted radiation beams. The beams destroy cancer cells while they spare surrounding healthy tissue.
The Personal Touch
“It’s ironic,” Kathy notes. “Looking back, what stands out more than anything else during my treatments are the personal touches.” She appreciated the “sense of calm” and “little creature comforts” like CDs, cocoa, and other goodies.
During her seven weeks of radiation therapy, Kathy would typically arrive at Commonwealth Atrius Cancer Center at 8:15 a.m. for treatment, leave after 25 minutes, and arrive at work in Stoughton before 9 a.m.
“I really appreciated not having to drive downtown and fight traffic,” she says. “There was almost no disruption of my regular routine, and I didn’t miss a day of work.”
Kathy also appreciates the fact that, throughout her life, most of her healthcare and that of her family has been in the local community: “I’ve lived on the South Shore my whole life, and I’ve worked in healthcare my whole life. Isn’t it wonderful that we have a world-class cancer center right here in our community?”
Kathy continues: “I feel blessed. Through my work, which has included hospice care in oncology and adult respite care, I’ve met terrific patients and feel privileged to have treated them. In my personal life, my family means everything to me. There are some good longevity genes in our family, but life is short. You need to have a good outlook and make the most of it.”
Kathy says she’s fortunate she found her malignancy early, in its most treatable form. She encourages other women to keep up with cancer screening guidelines and go for mammography exams, as indicated. She also encourages people who may be at risk for cancer to receive genetic counseling and testing, a service provided at Commonwealth Atrius Cancer Center.
After Kathy’s radiation treatment, she and her husband went on what she calls “a very well-deserved vacation.” Today, Kathy continues to do what she always has done: maintain a healthy lifestyle, work as a nurse, enjoy time with her family—including a daughter, step-daughter, step-son, and three grandchildren—and find comfort through prayer and meditation.
She reflects, “I know the value of proper medication and technology, but what’s just as important is humanity. I realize the difference that compassionate healthcare providers can have on your life. For me and my family, Dr. Fung and her staff will always occupy a special place in our hearts.
“Today, my dad, my husband, and I are all cancer-free. Life is good.”
Commonwealth Atrius Cancer Center is a collaboration between Commonwealth Hematology-Oncology and Atrius Health. Dr. Claire Y. Fung serves as Medical Director of Radiation Oncology for Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, an affiliate of Atrius Health.