Patient Jayne Saul and her experience at the Royal Adelaide Hospitals’ Department of Thoracic Medicine
Professor Phan Nguyen (left), Jayne Saul and Associate Professor Arash Badiei.
On a bright winter afternoon a member of the RAH Research Fund team had the privilege of speaking with RAH patient, Jayne.
From the moment her voice was heard over the phone, her warmth struck us and immediately left a positive impression. As the conversation unfolded, it became clear that Jayne possessed a quiet strength and remarkable resilience. Despite her ongoing battle with cancer, her approach to life was to go forth in daily routines with courage, optimism, and determination.
Jayne was diagnosed with cervical and vulvar cancer shortly after retiring. Looking back, she considers the timing a blessing, as the demands of treatment required every ounce of her mental, emotional, and physical strength. What began as a simple concern and a visit to her doctor quickly led to a series of tests and, ultimately, a life-changing cancer diagnosis.
Patients like Jayne are the reason your donations matter and make a crucial difference in treatment at RAH!!
Determined to face the challenge ahead with resilience, Jayne underwent the necessary chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Her perseverance paid off, and she celebrated the wonderful milestone of being cancer-free for two years, with clear scan results providing reassurance and hope for the future.
However, during a routine follow-up CT scan, a senior doctor identified a tiny tumour in Jayne’s lung. The discovery was unexpected and concerning, particularly because the tumour was located just millimetres from her heart.
With history repeating itself, Jayne faced another daunting health challenge that she approached with the same courage and positive outlook that had carried her through her previous cancer journey.
Jayne was placed in the care of Professor Phan Nguyen, Head of the Unit, Department of Thoracic Medicine, Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Professor Phan Nguyen and his team need your help to fund his crucial research in the Thoracic Medicine space!
With Jayne under Professor Phan Nguyens’ care, she had two treatment options – surgery or radiation.
Jayne chose radiation treatment first, the most familiar route of care.
Her own medical background – having a 10-year role in theatre at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (TQEH) – made her diagnosis and path to regain her health even more frightening. Jayne was confident in the expertise and care issued to her by Professor Phan Nguyen and his team at RAH.
Jaynes’ confidence and trust multiplied when she was offered a biopsy of the lung module found close to her heart, using South Australia’s first robot-assisted bronchoscopy system, now operating at the RAH. This machine allowed clinicians to navigate directly to the lesion and support an earlier diagnosis.
The technology is now part of clinical practice at RAH, giving patients suspected lung cancer access to more precise diagnostic care.
Being only the second patient to undergo the procedure during a successful trial period supported by the Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN), Jayne felt her faith in her treating team expand as she learnt how the robotic bronchoscope works. The machine is PRECISE; with the tool used to remove tissue being smaller than a regular bronchoscope.
Jayne gave an immediate yes to the robotic bronchoscope biopsy, relaying her memory of relief knowing the accuracy of the machine given the proximity of the cancerous module to her heart. It is without need to say that the expertise and extensive medical knowledge of Professor Phan Nguyen and team were also the reasons why Jayne felt so confident during the biopsy.
“I had all the faith in Professor Phan and the team, and I had a very positive experience,” Jayne says. “It was reassuring to know they would be able to get more of the tumour. Research and what we can do medically is moving so fast, it’s not something to fear but rather to embrace.”
Jaynes’ biopsy was successful. Jayne was clear in her opinion that if the robotic bronchoscope had not been available for her, that would have impacted on her decision, and outcome, of surgical success.
She entrusted her body and health to Professor Phan Nguyen and the robotic bronchoscope wholeheartedly, a decision she has not once regretted due to the pinpoint of precision and accuracy of the machine and the care of Professor Phan Nguyen, and team. All she wanted was to safely have the tumor removed, and her wish was granted.
Please donate now to keep Professor Phan Nguyens’ research into Thoracic Medicine going strong! Your donation really makes all the difference to the outcomes of lung and heart cancer patients at RAH.