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Article Category: PeopleCare

ScottCare

Published on March 03, 2022

Last updated 10:06 AM March 03, 2022

article-image

Every day, Scott Hullihen’s gaze falls on a very unique piece of art hanging in his home.

To the untrained eye, the spiraling streaks across the canvas could be mistaken for an abstract painting in a museum. But for Scott, it holds a much deeper, personal meaning: hope for a cancer-free future.

A closer look reveals a puzzling QR code in the corner of the print and, when scanned, it plays the very voicemail from his Wellstar radiation oncologist that got him through the most difficult days in his cancer journey.

“The picture is his voice in soundwaves. I get to see it every day,” said Scott. “It’s the most thoughtful thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life.”

The ebbs and flows of the piece show how he conquered the highs and lows of his difficult rectal cancer diagnosis, with support from Wellstar as the constant through it all.

Just like the highly personalized art print, his expert team of physicians formed a tailored care plan for Scott, right down to his DNA.

Together with his Wellstar team, Scott beat cancer and is back to living life to the fullest.


A surprising diagnosis

Scott was a typical guy in his 30s, working in technology and spending time with friends and family.

“Everything was normal,” he said. “I’d go to sporting events or concerts.”

But his diagnosis of colorectal cancer at just 35 years old was anything but typical.

“That was shocking,” he said.

In 2020, Scott’s stomach started hurting — and it didn’t stop. He started eating better and cut certain ingredients from his diet. He regularly rode his bike for 15 miles.

“I was getting in good shape!” he said.

But the pain continued, with an urgency to use the bathroom, constipation and blood. His doctor referred him to Dr. Sachin Goel, a gastroenterologist, for a colonoscopy in August. Immediately after the procedure, he learned there was a tumor in his colon.

“It was a quiet car ride,” Scott remembered sitting silently next to his mother, who had driven him there.

That Friday, a biopsy confirmed it was cancer. Scott was immediately referred to Wellstar’s Rectal Cancer Multidisciplinary Program, the first and only treatment center in metro Atlanta accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC), a quality program by the Commission on Cancer.


Getting the highest level of rectal cancer care

After the weekend, Scott met with Dr. Sahir Shroff, a cancer surgeon.

“People raved about how good a surgeon Dr. Shroff is – I learned he was one of the best in the state,” Scott said. “He saved my life.”

The board-certified and fellowship-trained surgical oncologist reassured Scott.

“This is one of the most subspecialized rectal cancer programs in metro Atlanta,” he said. “Every person with rectal cancer is reviewed at our multidisciplinary meeting to provide the highest level of care.”

Select doctors are designated to stage and treat rectal cancer patients following evidence-based guidelines. The team includes colorectal surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, gastroenterologists, pathologists and radiologists. Higher experience in treating rectal cancer leads to better outcomes for patients.

Scott also had a nurse navigator coordinate his cancer staging and treatment. Nancy Page answered questions and scheduled important appointments, such as CT scans and MRIs as well as meetings with various specialists.

A licensed Wellstar genetic counselor was also on Scott’s team. Amy Ekwurtzel found that Scott had two genetic abnormalities that make him slightly more susceptible to colorectal cancer. This information gave the team additional clues about the best way to care for Scott.

Don’t be afraid. Make an appointment. It’s uncomfortable to get a colonoscopy, and hopefully, they don’t find anything bad. But get it checked.

- Scott Hullihen

Wellstar Colorectal Cancer Survivor

Listen to Scott's Story

A compassionate call

That Friday, Scott consulted with Dr. Olusola Obayomi-Davies, a radiation oncologist. He also had an MRI of the rectum and CT scans of his chest, abdomen and pelvis at Wellstar East Cobb Health Park to see if the cancer had spread.

Dr. Davies knew stress and anxiety are common for people waiting for test results.

“It was a holiday weekend, and I wanted to tell him as soon as possible so he could enjoy his weekend,” Dr. Davies said.

Before he could drive his truck out of the parking lot, Scott received a voicemail from Dr. Davies who said the cancer didn’t appear to be in other parts of the body — excellent news. “It was the best voicemail I ever got!” Scott remembered. “It was a relief. I could have filled up a bucket I cried so much.”


Chemotherapy, a challenging game-changer

After the team reviewed Scott’s imaging, pathology and colonoscopy results, they staged his cancer and created a personalized treatment plan. A new evidence-based treatment called Total Neoadjuvant Therapy (TNT) was recommended, calling for chemotherapy followed by radiation combined with chemotherapy before surgery.

“The benefit of having chemotherapy first is that it shrinks the primary cancer in the rectum and addresses microscopic cancer that we can’t see in the body,” explained Dr. Michael Andrews, Scott’s medical oncologist and Wellstar’s chief cancer officer.

Scott received chemotherapy through IV infusion treatments every other week plus continuous infusion. Extreme fatigue, nausea and weight loss made him want to quit. Dr. Andrews was sympathetic but encouraged him to keep going with the goal of a cure. He added IV fluid and steroids to Scott’s infusion treatments to ease the nausea.

Scott felt better and completed his chemotherapy course on December 16, 2020.

“I rang the bell — everyone clapped,” he remembered.

Best of all, a CT scan showed the tumor had shrunk by 80%.

“I couldn’t believe the difference!” he said. “I could go to the bathroom. There was no more pain.”

Did radiation make the tumor disappear?

Scott began external beam radiation therapy, paired with a low-dose chemotherapy pill to optimize the effectiveness of radiation. Dr. Davies used volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) to precisely contour radiation targets into unusual shapes while minimizing toxicity.

“Dr. Davies kept it real,” Scott said. “He was cool in the way that he talked to me — not like a doctor, like a friend.”

This time, the CT scan showed that the tumor had disappeared. However, Scott still needed surgery.

“When we finish someone’s treatment, it looks like all the cancer is gone,” Dr. Davies explained. “But there can still be microscopic cancer that doesn’t show up on the scan. Surgery is important.”


Robotic surgery for a long, cancer-free life

In April, it was time for Scott to have complex rectal cancer surgery at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital. Dr. Shroff guided a da Vinci Surgical System robot to make five small incisions and peer into Scott’s abdomen with magnified cameras. The minimally-invasive technology allowed Dr. Shroff to remove part of Scott’s rectum with precision. Two months later, Scott returned to the hospital so Dr. Shroff could reconnect his healed colon.

After surgery, Scott’s pathology found no evidence of cancer anywhere in the colon, rectum or lymph nodes.

“That’s about the best news you can ever give,” said Dr. Davies.

Scott said he couldn’t have gotten this far without his healthcare team — and the overwhelming support of his family.

“After my surgery, I was in the hospital for eight days and my mother was there everyday,” Scott said. “She is a saint and I couldn’t have done it without her. My dad, sister and my brother-in-law would visit often. Without their continued positive support during the entire process, it would have been so much more difficult.”


Advocating for good health

Scott sometimes advises and comforts acquaintances who are newly diagnosed.

“I say trust the process. The doctors and nurses at Wellstar are absolutely amazing — I can’t say enough good things about them,” he said.

He also jokes that he’s “lucky” to have annual colonoscopies. He encourages friends with symptoms to talk to their doctors about symptoms without delay.

“Don’t be afraid,” Scott said. “Make an appointment. It’s uncomfortable to get a colonoscopy, and hopefully, they don’t find anything bad. But get it checked!”

Scott and his girlfriend standing in front of the canvas art piece featuring the call from Dr. Davies.

The gift of a second chance

Today, Scott works in the telecommunications field, is active and spends time with friends and his girlfriend.

On his first chemotherapy completion anniversary, Scott’s girlfriend surprised him with a blue-ribbon cake (the colorectal cancer awareness color) and his unique, personalized piece of artwork.

He unwrapped three canvas art pieces displaying a zig zag and a QR code, which he scanned with his phone. His favorite voicemail — the one from Dr. Davies telling him his cancer was contained — played back.

As for what’s next? Scott’s healthcare team at Wellstar will continue to monitor his health so he can live his longest, fullest life.

“For some reason, I got a second chance, and I’m going to make the best of it,” he promised.

Learn more about Wellstar’s Multidisipinary Program for Rectal Cancer — the first and only center in metro Atlanta to have the NAPRC accreditation.

Tags

Sahir Girish Shroff Sachin Goel Olusola Obayomi-Davies
East Cobb Health Park Kennestone Hospital PeopleCare Cancer Care
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