A Helping Hand

Deborah Petrole of Andreas was preparing for a shopping trip with her daughter last fall when she received distressing news from her doctor. She had breast cancer. “I was stunned,” she says. Within 10 days, she had a double mastectomy, then chemotherapy.

In addition to her family, friends and physicians, Petrole, 51 (above, right), had someone else on her side: nursing care coordinator Diane McHugh, R.N. (above, left), of Lehigh Valley Hospital’s Breast Health Services. A cancer nurse like McHugh assists every breast cancer patient with all aspects of her care—from a second opinion to surgical consultation to treatment and follow-up.

“I had questions about my chemotherapy, exercises after surgery and support groups, and Diane made sense of it all,” Petrole says. “She really became a caring friend.”

Now cancer-free, Petrole is back to work as a technician at a Tamaqua pharmacy and recently returned from a mission trip to the Dominican Republic. Next she’s ready for a landmark event: “I’m helping to plan my daughter’s wedding,” she says.

Comprehensive Care for Cancer

Leading-edge treatments such as image-guided radiation therapy (with radiation therapy manager Petra Osanitsch) allow for very precise treatment of tumors. Investments in technology enable more people to survive cancer today—so does attention to their physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Lehigh Valley Hospital provides comprehensive support through celebrations and workshops attended by more than 400 people who have survived cancer. They share their stories, learn from each other and hear inspiring words from guest speakers like David Bailey, an accomplished musician and cancer survivor.

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