A Sudden Diagnosis of Colon Cancer
At the beginning of 2012, Donald Smith thought he was living a healthy, active lifestyle. No complaints.
Then a few months ago, the fatigue began. “I was just tired all the time,” says Donald, a 49-year-old auto mechanic from Howell.
It wasn’t long after his June visit to Kevin Berg, MD, board-certified family medicine physician on staff at CentraState’s
Family Healthcare at Bartley Corner, that Donald got news he never expected. After more tests—including additional blood work, an ultrasound and a CAT scan—doctors determined something was wrong. He had colon cancer—and it had spread to his lungs and liver.
Bad News, Good News
“There were masses on my liver, but they had come from the colon cancer,” Donald says. “Once they found out it was cancer, they put me in touch with Dr. [Bhavesh] Balar [MD, board-certified in hematology/oncology and on staff at CentraState].”
Donald was admitted to the hospital the day after his diagnosis. Since the cancer had metastasized from his colon to his liver and lungs, the treatment plan was complicated. Doctors, including one of CentraState’s newest team members, Thomas J. Kayal, MD, board-certified colon and rectal surgeon on staff at CentraState, agreed that treating the liver masses first was a priority.
“They told me if I didn’t do anything, I might have six months,” says Donald, who has no family history of cancer. But because he was quick to take action, the father of four and grandfather of three now has a more positive outlook than he did a few months ago.
Before proceeding with chemotherapy, Dr. Kayal, who specializes in laparoscopic and robotic-assisted colorectal surgery, felt Donald should
