Paso Robles cancer patient receives special chemo treatment closer to home
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - Many people have wondered how cancer patients are able to get their life-saving treatments during the pandemic. Here's one example of a local doctor and hospital figuring out a way to make it work.
J.T. Link, MD, at Dignity Health’s SLO Oncology and Hematology Health Center is treating Bekki Slater who has a rare form of cancer in her bile duct. She's from Paso Robles and has advanced, inoperable cholongiocarcinoma.
Slater is the first person in the world to be accepted into the “PROOF” Clinical Trial at the University of Southern California which is evaluating an investigational medication to treat this rare disease.
Before the pandemic hit, she would have to drive several hours south to Los Angeles every week to receive her 5-hour special alternative chemotherapy treatments. But, Dr. Link reached out to the physicians involved with the PROOF clinical program and managed to set it up so Slater could get those same chemo treatments at Dignity Health’s infusion center in San Luis Obispo instead. It dramatically cuts back on Slater's stress and the hours she would normally spend driving on the freeway.
“I had no idea that this could even be an option. I’m so thankful for Dr. Link going out of his way to get my treatment approved here locally. If this trial works, it could give me what I need to hold my cancer at bay and ideally make me eligible for a liver transplant,” said Slater.
“I want our patients to have access to advanced cancer treatments during the viral pandemic. If I can help make that happen, I am happy to go the extra mile,” said Dr. Link.
