New Lenox Man Beats Lung Cancer with Help from Specialists at Silver Cross

Chuck Prah smoked most of his life – right up to the day when he had the first of two surgeries to remove the cancer in his lungs.

It was on Christmas Eve 2014, during a routine treatment for iron deficiency, when Dr. Lawrence Schilder, Medical Director of Hematology/Oncology with the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center at Silver Cross Hospital, recommended a GI workup. He sent the 70-year-old Prah to see Dr. Douglas Lee, gastroenterologist, who performed endoscopy at Silver Cross Hospital but also thought to order a CT lung screening since Chuck had a significant smoking history.

What they found were several tumors in Chuck’s lungs.

“Chuck had stage 1 lung cancer, which when treated appropriately can be cured,” Dr. Schilder said. “We were fortunate to discover the lung nodules at an early stage, long before they would have caused symptoms.”

Dr. Schilder brought Chuck’s PET, CT, and biopsy reports to the Multi-Disciplinary Lung Cancer Conference at Silver Cross. A diverse group of lung cancer specialists representing medical oncology, pulmonology, radiation oncology, interventional radiology, and thoracic surgery, they reviewed the information and discussed what would be the best course of action to eradicate the deadly disease. That same day they provided Chuck with a recommended treatment plan that included surgical resection.

“I was so impressed that there was a team of people making sure I was getting the best treatment available as soon as possible,” said the New Lenox man.

Chuck had masses in both lungs.

“The right lung tumor was the larger dominant mass and required immediate attention as the first stage in his treatment,” said Chuck’s thoracic surgeon, Dr. David Cziperle. “The left lung mass was smaller and a repeat surveillance PET/CT scan was planned to determine if the mass enlarged over time.”

Just a few weeks after the initial diagnosis, Dr. Cziperle performed a right thoracotomy, lobectomy, and excision of lymph nodes to remove the cancerous cells from Chuck’s right lung and to provide definitive staging of his cancer. Fortunately, that cancer was contained and no further treatment was needed.

Three months later, Chuck had another PET/CT scan.

“Drs. Schilder and Cziperle didn’t like the way it looked,” Chuck said. “The largest of the three spots on my left lung had grown, so Dr. Cziperle took me back into surgery on July 23, 2015.”

Lab tests confirmed that the resected tumors represented two additional cancers on the left - or three separate cancers in only six months.

After a brief recovery, Chuck underwent four eight-hour chemotherapy treatments every three weeks in the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center at Silver Cross Hospital to increase the odds of curing all of his lung cancers.

“I thought it would be scary,” said Chuck. “But I was wrong. They gave me two different types of medicine to help with the nausea and I never lost weight. Everyone was so good to me. I got the best care close to home.”

Today, Chuck is cancer-free and back serving as a bailiff at the Will County Courthouse.

“With the team at Silver Cross, I knew I could survive this,” said Chuck who just celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary with his wife, AnnaMarie, their children Jeffrey and Lorilyn, and seven grandchildren.

“Both Drs. Schilder and Cziperle are at the top of our list. We just adore them and their staff,” added AnnaMarie. “They made us feel like family; like they were taking care of one of their own. This really meant the world to us.”

If you or someone you know could benefit from the Multi-Disciplinary Lung Cancer Conference at Silver Cross, call 1-815-300-LUNG (5864) to schedule an appointment.

To learn more about diagnostic and treatment options available for individuals with lung nodules, lung cancer, and other chest-related abnormalities, join Dr. David Cziperle on Thursday, March 3. This free program – Lung Cancer: Quick, Coordinated Care can Save Your Life, will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Silver Cross Hospital Conference Center, 1890 Silver Cross Blvd., New Lenox.

Register to attend at www.silvercross.org or call 1-888-660-HEAL (4325).