Conquering Lung Cancer at CRMC

Each November, healthcare facilities around the country recognize Lung Cancer Awareness Month. This initiative seeks to bring attention to the disease and save lives through early diagnosis.

At CRMC, our team helps patients navigate the entire lung cancer journey, and such is the case with Pete Golz.

He stated, “I was born with a hole in my heart between the left and right atrium, and this condition caused me to have a stroke three years ago. Last November, doctors put a titanium patch and closed that hole in my heart. Along with this surgery, they took a CT scan, everything was fine, but when they did a follow-up CT scan, they found a swollen lymph node, and that’s what led to a lung cancer diagnosis. It’s what I call an early catch. And you know lung cancer will kill people. Early in life, I was a smoker, but I’ve been a non-smoker for years, and I’m known as a runner. Even for ‘healthier’ people, this diagnosis can come, and getting aggressive with the disease early is pivotal.”

On cancer, and the impact it’s had on his life, Golz elaborated, “It runs in my family. My dad passed away from prostate cancer, and of my six siblings, I’ve only got my sister, Priscilla, left. This disease has killed my siblings. You know, that’s hard, and I have already had my own battle with cancer prior to this lung diagnosis. I got over stage three prostate cancer five years ago, and I received wonderful treatment for that at Vanderbilt. So I already had that experience, and I was really leaning towards going the Nashville route again for lung cancer treatment. But I talked to Beth (Slatten), and she encouraged me to give the Cancer Center at CRMC (physicians and providers from Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center) a chance. She laid out the care I would receive, and after chatting, I decided to stay local for treatment. I was shocked in a good way, at just how well this place operates, it’s amazing. What they’ve done here, they’re miracle workers.”

As a Lung Cancer Navigator, Beth Slatten, RN, BSN, sees CRMC’s Cancer Center as a game-changer for oncology in the Upper Cumberland.

She said, “We have partnered with Vanderbilt, and Dr. Penny Heinrich is our Vanderbilt medical oncology physician and medical director. In my position, I try to pair patients not only on treatment but also on personality, and I knew Pete would do very well with Dr. Heinrich. Beyond Dr. Heinrich, the Cancer Center has long been a staple of care in the community, and I’m really proud of where we are as a facility and team. In addition to our physician and nursing staff, we have a support staff that includes social workers, a genetic counselor, a registered dietitian, multisite nurse navigators, and a clinical trials department. We also have medical oncology as well as radiation oncology under one roof – all of the advantages that the larger facilities do, right here in the community’s back yard. It’s wonderful to see lives like Pete’s changed here in the Cancer Center at CRMC.” She added, “While the standard of care is the same for all cancer facilities, we really do individualize it here at CRMC. We make it specific for each person. Everyone’s cancer journey is unique, and we make sure we treat everyone here as an individual, not a number, on their way to beating this awful disease.”

Now past treatments and prepping for surgery, Pete has become evangelical about Cookeville Regional Medical Center and the care those facing illness can receive within its walls.

“I’ve been, you know, spreading the good word, if you will. And I do that because of the level of knowledge found and the compassion found at CRMC. The doctors, nurses, and all professional staff are extremely knowledgeable. You can see it. They’ve been trained extremely well. I’m a scientist by trade, a chemist. So I’m asking these people more technical questions, things I don’t have answers to. And they can answer those questions. It’s obvious they’ve been well-trained. That’s one side of it. The other side of it is that the people here have been so supportive and so nice. There are times you come here, and you’re not having one of your better days. They’ve got your back and walk through those dark moments with you. It’s been an incredible experience.”

He added, “My physician, Dr. Penny Heinrich, has been very caring and so knowledgeable. I appreciate everything that she has done for me. Chemo is a hard battle, and Dr. Heinrich, along with the entire Cancer Center team, has been reassuring. They’ve made those heavier days lighter, and they’ve also provided excellent, top-of-the-line treatment. I couldn’t recommend the Cancer Center at CRMC anymore highly, and I strongly encourage anyone facing a scary diagnosis to stay in Cookeville for their cancer treatment.”

While Pete Golz still faces surgery and the recovery that follows, the positive effects of his treatment at CRMC are obvious. He still makes it to tee time at White Plains Country Club, doing the things he enjoys in life again.

If one is facing cancer, the Cancer Center at CRMC is here to help, close to home. Learn more by visiting www.crmchealth.org/cancer.