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MethodistHealthcare helps LightTheNight
Methodist Hospital and Methodist Children’s
Hospital CEO Gay Nord was this year’s corporate
chair for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s
(LLS) Light The Night Walk. The October 18 event
brought out more than 11,000 walkers in support
of the organization. The walk funds treatments
that are saving the lives of patients today. LLS is
making cures happen by providing patients sup-
port services, advocacy for life-saving treatments
and the most promising cancer research anywhere.
And it’s all happening now. Not someday, but today.
“For more than 50 years, Methodist Healthcare
has provided high-quality care to the people of San
Antonio, and I was excited to continue our support
as this year’s Light The Night Walk Corporate Chair,”
Nord says. “We were so proud to contribute to such
a great cause that impacts so many people’s lives.”
Nord helped Methodist Healthcare, a Sarah Cannon
partner, meet their fundraising goal of $125,000 for
this year’s event.
Methodist Healthcare is a member of the Sarah
Cannon Network of Excellence, committed to advanc-
ing science and transforming cancer care.
Methodist Children’s Hospital
only
hospital
inU.S. to treat rare vascular condition
Casen Buswell has a rare vascular condition that causes
his blood vessels, skin and muscles to harden. His case is
one of only 14 known cases of glomuvenous malforma-
tions plaque type (GVM) in the world. The only hospital
in the United States offering treatment, and one of only
a few in the world, is Methodist Children’s Hospital, a
campus of Methodist Hospital in San Antonio. Using a
laser available in South Texas only at the hospital, physi-
cians and staff are giving Casen, age 2½, the chance to
grow up and lead a fairly normal life.
GVM is caused by a missing glomulin gene that re-
sults in improperly formed veins in the layers of skin and
deeper tissues. Casen’s lesions are extensive, covering his
chest, belly, arms and upper shoulders/back. As the skin
hardens, it becomes extremely painful and debilitating.
If left untreated, the condition can lead to heart failure.
Jenna Buswell and her husband faced many chal-
lenges—from misdiagnosis to unacceptable treatment
options—in finding help for Casen.
About nine weeks after Casen was born, the Buswells
learned about the condition from a geneticist. A hus-
band-and-wife doctor team in Belgium had identified
the missing gene and were the only doctors in the world
offering treatment. The couple was considering a move to
Belgium from their home in Puyallup, Washington, when
they learned that treatment was available in San Antonio.
John C. Browning, MD
, dermatologist, treats Casen
at Methodist Children’s Hospital using the Cynosure
Multiplex Laser. The laser shrinks the blood vessels us-
ing heat and light.
“It was hard to find an answer,” says Jenna. “Dr. Browning
has been amazing. As soon as we talked to him, we knew
that he understood the situation and was willing to work
with us to find the best treatment. We knew we had to
try. And the staff at Methodist Children’s Hospital has
been awesome.”
METHODI ST HEALTHCARE
AND SARAH CANNON
Fighting lung
cancer together
November was Lung Cancer AwarenessMonth, and one sur-
prising fact is that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer
deaths in the United States for both men and women. This
was a key topic at Methodist Healthcare, a partner with
Sarah Cannon Cancer Network and the South Texas Radi-
ology Imaging Centers (STRIC) in getting information out
about this deadly disease through early detection, includ-
ing diagnosis by a low-dose CT screening, and prevention.
Though smoking is the leading risk factor for lung
cancer, it’s not the only one. Other risk factors include:
3 3
Using chewing tobacco.
3 3
Being exposed to secondhand smoke.
3 3
Being exposed to asbestos or radon.
3 3
Having a lung disease, such as tuberculosis.
3 3
Having a family or personal history of lung cancer.
3 3
Being exposed to certain air pollutants.
3 3
Being exposed to coal dust.
3 3
Radiation therapy that was used to treat other cancers.
3 3
HIV infection.
Though many of these risk factors seem obvious,
symptoms for the disease can be hard to spot, sometimes
making it too late to treat. These symptoms include:
●
●
Coughs that don’t subside and worsen over time.
●
●
Constant chest pain or shortness of breath, wheezing
or hoarseness.
●
●
Repeated problems with pneumonia or bronchitis.
If you checked off one or more of the risk factors above
or have any of the symptoms, see your primary care phy-
sician and ask him or her to order a low-dose CT screen
or contact STRIC at
210-617-9000
for more information.
Casen Buswell’s parents finally found help for him at
Methodist Children’s Hospital.
Over 11,000 walkers take to the street at the starting gate in La Villita.
Gay Nord, CEO for Methodist Hospital and Methodist
Children’s Hospital, and leukemia survivor Aida Cordeau
count down to start the walk.
W I N T E R 2 0 1 4
K E E P I N G W E L L
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N E W S , V I E W S & T I P S
M E T H O D I S T H E A L T H C A R E