UK HealthCare

'Chuy's and UK Saved My Life' — One Markey Patient's Unexpected Diagnosis

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 15, 2012) — When Roland Lewis came to the University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital's emergency department with stomach pain last August, he got a diagnosis he didn't expect.

Lewis, 49, had just started training as a food server for his new job at Chuy's restaurant in Lexington. As part of his training, he was required to taste a sample of everything on the menu so that he could offer personal opinions on the food to his customers. He went a little overboard, he admits, trying more than just the recommended samples.

"Oh, I ate everything," he said with a laugh.

He ended up in the UK Chandler Emergency Department later, complaining of severe stomach spasms. After several tests including an ultrasound and EKG, the doctors confirmed that he was suffering from acid reflux and gastritis, caused by overeating the spicy foods. They were ready to treat and send him home.

But before he left, they decided to run just one more test to make sure they weren't missing something — a CAT scan. 

That scan showed early stage kidney cancer. Lewis, who says there's no history of cancer in his family, was shocked. He was referred to Dr. Paul Crispen, a urologic oncologist at the UK Markey Cancer Center.

The best course of treatment for early stage kidney cancer is complete surgical excision, says Crispen — that is, removal of all cancerous tissue while still preserving as much renal function as possible. For Lewis, Crispen performed a robotic partial nephrectomy, the surgical removal of just part of the kidney.

"The incidence of kidney cancer is on the rise, but fortunately for Lewis his cancer was discovered at an early stage," Crispen said. "In his case, we were able to remove all of the cancer laparoscopically with robotic assistance."

Lewis recovered at home for about six weeks following his surgery. He still receives checkups at regular intervals, but says that his most recent scans showed that his kidney function is perfect. With the cancer gone, he has returned to the job that started it all.

"I tell people that Chuy's saved my life," he said.

Crispen is one of four surgeons at UK who perform robotic surgeries similar to Lewis', but he is quick to point out that the human element of cancer treatment is just as important as the technology.

"Having the latest in robotic technology is only a part of a successful outcome like Lewis'," Crispen said. "But I think the true key to success is the high level of care provided by our outstanding team of nurses and operating room staff." 

Lewis, whose boisterous personality made him a hit with the Markey staff, couldn't agree more. After his primary treatment, he continued to stop by Markey every few months to visit those who cared for him, even when he didn't have a checkup scheduled.

"They are just phenomenal people," he said. "They really worked with me through this process."

However, Lewis will have another, more pressing reason to visit Markey frequently in the near future -- his wife, Dawn, was just diagnosed with breast cancer on July 23.

After noticing a small lump during a self-exam last month, Dawn Lewis immediately went to her primary care physician, who wanted to refer her to a cancer center for a mammogram and biopsy. When her physician brought up the referral, she insisted on coming to Markey.

"I wanted to go to UK," she said. "Because they did such a wonderful job with Roland's treatment."

At Markey, her tumor was confirmed to be malignant, and Dawn Lewis is scheduled for a bilateral mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.

While she is nervous about the procedure, she says having her husband's support throughout the process made all the difference.

"He went through it first, and now he is supporting me," she said. "He knows what I'm going through more than anyone."

MEDIA CONTACT: Allison Perry, (859) 323-2399 or allison.perry@uky.edu