6 Weight Loss Questions Answered by Our Experts

Eric Janeau, a former All-American offensive tackle who once played football at Kansas State University and Western Illinois University and trained with the Detroit Lions, faced a host of serious health conditions—a rare form of bile duct cancer, obesity, heart failure, kidney disease and diabetes. With the support of his tight-knit network of doctors and the Wellstar Center for Best Health, Eric is overcoming these obstacles and inspiring others through his remarkable weight loss journey.

Life change kickoff: A rare cancer diagnosis 

In 2021, Eric was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive bile duct cancer.

“I was in disbelief,” Eric remembered. “I didn’t eat all weekend.”

The only cure was surgery, but at 11 centimeters, the tumor was too large to be removed. Under the care of Medical Oncologist Dr. Carmen Klass, Eric began chemotherapy. At the time, he didn’t realize just how dismal his chances were for survival. At stage 4, the survival rate for this cancer type is 1%, with only four to six months to live if treatment isn’t successful.

Eric began chemotherapy accompanied by additional hydration to help with his heart failure and steroid shots that caused him to gain weight during treatment. After 12 rounds and six cycles of chemo, his body responded excellently—the mass shrunk by 40%. Surgical Oncologist Dr. Sahir Shroff re-evaluated him and cleared him for surgery to remove the tumor in early 2022.

Today, Eric is cancer free.

One team, one goal: Eric’s health comeback 

Eric’s journey didn’t end with cancer treatment. He also faced severe obesity, putting him at risk for life-threatening conditions like heart disease and stroke. Dr. Klass was concerned and took the time to address Eric’s other health concerns.

“Dr. Klass and Dr. Shroff keep up with my health and they keep each other informed of what’s going on,” Eric said. “They're totally invested in my well-being.”

After chemotherapy and surgery to remove the tumor, Dr. Klass referred Eric to Dr. Mitzi Rubin at Wellstar Center for Best Health. It was time to lose weight and get his diabetes and high blood pressure in check.

By Dr. Nevin Wadehra, hematologist/oncologist with Wellstar and Northwest Georgia Oncology Centers

The world of breast cancer can be confusing, especially because of all the abbreviations and acronyms. Knowing these terms can help us better understand breast cancer.

What does BRCA or HER2 mean when it comes to breast cancer?

To doctors, they’re important pieces of information that can guide their treatment strategies. To patients, they can mean the difference between one treatment plan and another—or even between risk and prevention.

Understanding BRCA

The Definition: BRCA is short for “Breast Cancer Gene.” It includes two separate genes: BRCA1 and BRCA2. These genes have been found to impact a person’s chance of developing certain cancers.

The Explanation: In the past few decades, breast cancer research has advanced from general diagnosis to highly personalized treatment. For example, BRCA1 and BRCA2 are associated with increased risk for several cancers including breast and ovarian cancer in women and prostate cancer in men. This is traditionally referred to as hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome. However, there are other increased risks with BRCA, including prostate and pancreatic cancer.

Patients without cancer but who have a family history of these cancers should discuss BRCA testing with their physician and consider evaluation by a genetic counselor. For patients with cancer who are known to have the BRCA gene, this could affect their treatment choices with more targeted therapy.

Understanding HER2

The Definition: HER2 stands for Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2. It is a protein found on the surface of breast cancer cells and plays a role in how the cells grow and divide.

The Explanation: Approximately 20% of female patients with breast cancer have tumors with high levels of HER2. Because HER2 is involved in the growth of cancer cells, this type of breast cancer can be aggressive. It's important that anyone diagnosed with breast cancer has their tumor tested for the presence of HER2.

In the past, HER2-positive tumors were associated with an increased risk of both recurrence and death from breast cancer. However, with the use of chemotherapy and targeted treatment against HER2, the prognosis of HER2-positive breast cancer has improved substantially.

Treatment options may include surgery, HER2-directed therapy with chemotherapy, endocrine therapy and radiation therapy. The best combination of treatments and the order in which to receive them can vary depending on the situation. Most patients with HER2-positive breast cancer will receive one or more chemotherapy drugs plus trastuzumab, a HER2 antibody. Many studies have shown that these treatments dramatically improve survival for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. Trastuzumab and chemotherapy are even recommended for patients with very small, HER2-positive breast cancers. Tumors as small as 0.5 centimeters often warrant such treatment.

Decisions must be individualized based on your unique risk. Talk to your doctor about whether you are a candidate for trastuzumab, especially if you have a small HER2-positive tumor.

How do you determine what treatment is best?

There are many options for the treatment of breast cancer, and deciding which is best can be confusing. Expert guidelines help clarify what treatments are most appropriate for large groups of patients.

However, individual factors—including your personal values and preferences, as well as your cancer stage and characteristics—are also important to consider. Talk to your care team about your treatment options and what is best suited to your individual needs.

Learn more about breast cancer care at wellstar.org/breastcancer.