Patient Shares Experience at Holzer
April was recently recognized as Head and Neck Cancer Awareness month, which provided an opportunity to recognize this type of cancer and encourage early detection. Head and neck cancers can develop in or around the throat, larynx, nose, sinuses or mouth.
With this recognition, Holzer shares the experience of patient Brien Burke. In early 2023, Brien was experiencing an earache. He went to his primary care provider to be treated and when the earache persisted, he was referred to an Otolaryngology (ENT) provider, Dr. Matthew Cosenza at the Holzer Athens location.
“Dr. Cosenza is wonderful,” shared Brien. He looked at my ear and could tell there was something pressing on a nerve, causing the pain. I was scheduled for a biopsy, and my journey began.”
Brien’s biopsy showed cancer, and he started treatments at the Holzer Center for Cancer Care in Gallipolis. He completed radiation 5 days a week for 8 weeks, in addition to chemo one day a week for 8 weeks. “The staff all were way beyond my expectations,” shared Brien. “They took care of everything, every little need we might have. The key was that I let them take control of my situation. My wife, Judy, was my advocate, and they met every need we had with kindness. We had a great experience every step of the way.”
Brien has remained cancer-free for almost two years.
“They saved my life,” Brien continued. “The staff is my family. From doctors, nurses, technicians, etc., I wouldn’t have made it through without them.”
The Holzer Center for Cancer Care, in affiliation with The Cleveland Clinic, offers a wide variety of treatment options. In 2018, radio surgery (TrueBeam™ Radiotherapy System) began at the center to allow for high doses of radiation treatment in a short amount of time, returning patients back to their lives quicker. The TrueBeam™ Radiotherapy System is the same system used in most large academic centers today.
Brien remarked on the affiliation, “Knowing that the Center is affiliated with Cleveland Clinic Cancer Clinic provided an assurance that I was receiving top-notch care. They took advantage of the resources available and even reviewed my treatment plan with Cleveland Clinic. It provided a confident feeling about the care I was receiving.”
Brien and his wife reside in Albany, Ohio. “I’m glad to be able to keep doing all the activities that I’ve always enjoyed. When I go visit the Center, I feel like a celebrity. Everyone there is friendly and welcoming at all times.”
The Holzer Center for Cancer Care provides state-of-the-art treatment for all cancer sites with gentle, competent, and individualized care. For more information on the types of cancer services available, call 1-855-4-HOLZER or visit www.holzer.org.
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