Relentless Care Defeats Pancreatic Cancer

Co-workers on her maintenance team used to call Ondina Garcia “OT“ – short for “over time”. Whenever she had an opportunity to work extra hours, she did. But the many hours she spent trying to obtain an accurate diagnosis and treatment for her stomach problem almost didn’t pay off. Finally, she was referred to Henry Ford where persistent physicians found and treated pancreatic cancer. Seven years later, she has defied survival expectations and now she’s spending her OT enjoying life.

For more than a decade, Ondina cleaned floors at night in the Detroit Institute of Arts while appreciating the paintings and history. Ondina was careful to eat healthy meals – never fatty ones – yet her cholesterol was high, and her stomach often burned.

Baffled referral

When she retired, a friend noticed her skin and eyes were slightly yellow. Ondina saw a physician not affiliated with Henry Ford, but the problem continued. After several months of unsuccessful treatment, the frustrated physician referred Ondina to Henry Ford in downtown Detroit for a second opinion.

When the couple met gastroenterologist Robert Pompa, M.D., they knew they were in good hands. “He was determined. You could see it in his face,” says Enrique, Ondina’s husband who often translates for her, being that her main language is Spanish.

“They welcomed us. They never looked at us funny. They made us feel safe,” recalls Enrique. Still, Ondina warned the medical staff that she had a fear of doctors that caused her blood pressure to rise.

Dr. Pompa performed a biopsy of her pancreas, but nothing was found. Still, he was convinced something was wrong and wanted to do another biopsy lower in the pancreas.

Enrique refused, “I wasn’t going to put my wife through that.”

Yet Dr. Pompa persisted. Finally, Ondina and Enrique agreed. Another biopsy was done and grade 2B pancreatic cancer was found.

“I didn’t cry. I didn’t ask why it was happening to me,” says Ondina whose grandfather died of pancreatic cancer. “I just wanted that cancer monster out of me.”

“Dr. Pompa told us that we were going to need a lot of support,” says Enrique. “But I told him we could do it alone. We’re strong.”

Again, Dr. Pompa persisted and convinced the couple to contact a national support group for pancreatic cancer patients. “Finally, we took all his advice and ran with it,” says Enrique.

Meeting the multidisciplinary cancer team

To discuss a treatment plan, the couple met with the entire multidisciplinary cancer team including a nurse navigator who would literally navigate them through all aspects of the treatment – even scheduling and following up on appointments with various cancer specialists.

“Our method of evaluating patients does not discriminate. It doesn’t matter if you’re wealthy or if you have zero money in the bank," says David Kwon, M.D., clinical director of the Pancreatic Cancer Center. “Everyone receives a wholistic evaluation, regardless of race, finances or any other factors.”

All the treatment options were discussed at tumor board, and Ondina was given the choice of surgery or chemotherapy and radiation therapy. She chose surgery, concerned that chemotherapy would be too taxing on her body.

Dr. Kwon performed a Whipple procedure to remove the tumor, bile duct, and part of the stomach and small intestine.

“For Ondina’s type of cancer, this surgery is the standard of care, but it has up to a 40 percent complication rate,” says Dr. Kwon. “So, patients need specialists who routinely do this surgery.”

In the recovery room, Ondina saw Dr. Pompa and kissed him. “I was so happy he found the cancer,” says Ondina. She spent eight days in the hospital and for the next three months she was fed through a tube.

“Everything was fine,” says Ondina.