Client Story
How PHM went beyond the standard of care to help John beat expectations and thrive.
At 72, John was in good health and enjoying his family and thriving business. But he knew something wasn’t right. After dealing with ongoing gastrointestinal issues and unexplained weight loss exacerbated by a COVID-19 infection, John underwent a CT scan and was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer.
His specific diagnosis, adenosquamous carcinoma, is a particularly aggressive form of an already aggressive disease. After speaking with an oncologist about treatment and prognosis, John and his family were determined to explore all available options to improve his chances of survival. His primary care physician suggested he contact PHM.
John’s PHM Personal Care Team immediately began developing a personalized plan. PHM connected John to a leading expert, who recommended rotating metronomic chemotherapy and targeted agents based on molecular profiling of his cancer cells. Metronomic chemotherapy uses lower and less toxic concentrations and is administered more frequently.
Tumor Board and Molecular Profiling
While John was undergoing treatment, PHM helped convene a Tumor Board made up of leaders in the fields of precision oncology, molecular diagnostics, and pancreatic cancer to determine the best therapeutic options.
PHM also worked to get additional molecular profiling data to validate actionable therapeutic targets. The test results indicated that John’s current therapy might cause concerning side effects and suggested other targeted therapies might be more effective. After considering the data, the Tumor Board reached a consensus on an individualized treatment plan that included drugs not previously used in his care.
Doctors gave John just six months to live when he was first diagnosed. Instead, he has had an incredible reduction in his disease burden and is enjoying an excellent quality of life.
John’s PHM Personal Care Team continues to explore additional measures to help keep his illness at bay. For example, based on his treatment response and current clinical condition, John has become an excellent candidate for a cancer vaccine, which can add another layer of protection by training the immune system to recognize the cancer cells and help reduce the risk of disease progression.
Learn more about how PHM experts approach pancreatic cancer treatment.
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