HealthTop story
Munster cancer patients can now collect beads to mark treatment milestones
10 daysfrom diagnosis to TAVR for Mark Hittle
His echocardiogram and his visit with the cardiologist happened the same day.
Source: GreatNews.Life
If you or someone you love is in cancer treatment, there's a new way to mark progress. Patients at Franciscan Health in Munster can now collect beads and charms to celebrate milestones throughout their treatment journey.
Heart care is in the news in Munster too. GreatNews.Life reports that Lowell resident Mark Hittle, 70, learned from an echocardiogram that he had critical aortic stenosis. Within 10 days, he had a minimally invasive TAVR at Community Hospital in Munster.
- Procedure: new valve goes in through a small groin or chest incision
- Old valve stays in place while the new one takes over
- No bypass machine needed, unlike traditional valve surgery
“The mortality rate for severe aortic stenosis is higher than many cancers.”
Samer Abbas, MD, co-medical director of Powers Health Cardiovascular Services
Mark is now 72. He's back to 4-mile walks with his wife, and he says TAVR got him moving again much quicker.
TAVR skips the bypass machine that open-heart valve surgery needs
| Compare | TAVR | Open-heart surgery |
|---|---|---|
| How it's done | Small incision in groin or chest | Complex open-heart procedure |
| Bypass machine | Not required | Required |
| Recovery | Much quicker | Slower |
Source: GreatNews.Life
