Everyone was so compassionate and kind, from Dr. Pompa, the nurses at the Outpatient Infusion Unit and nurse navigator Victoria.
Discovered Cancer after Common Surgery Treatment
Gives RWJBarnabas Health Patient New Outlook on Life
Lakewood, NJ - Cared for by multiple RWJBarnabas Health physicians and hospitals, Luz Cardona Vallejo’s health care journey began with a common minimally invasive surgical procedure that ultimately revealed a cancer diagnosis and led to her complex road to recovery.
Luz was experiencing severe pain throughout her right-side midsection that radiated through her back and prompted her to make an appointment with New Jersey Surgical Specialists and Dr. William Boyan in August 2024. Dr. Boyan’s team scheduled gall bladder removal for Luz at Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus (MMCSC), Lakewood and all went smoothly. After the gallbladder was removed and sent for pathology, Luz’s surgery became anything but a ‘routine’ procedure.
After Luz’s gallbladder was found to be cancerous, Dr. Boyan suggested that Luz visit with Tiffany Pompa, MD, MS, a medical oncologist, who referred Luz to MMCSC, where she would receive great care close to home. Luz began her infusion treatments with the compassionate team of certified oncology nurses. This is where Luz also met RWJBarnabas Health oncology nurse navigator Victoria Rivas, who was able to assist in interpretation with Luz, who only speaks Spanish, and helped her to navigate through RWJBarnabas Health.
“Everyone was so compassionate and kind, from Dr. Pompa, the nurses at the Outpatient Infusion Unit and nurse navigator Victoria,” explains Luz. “I have two daughters, one who was 13 at the time and I needed to fight for them and be well.”
Luz needed additional surgeries for biliary stenting and a liver resection. Those took place at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick with gastroenterologist and Chief of Endoscopy Petros Benias, MD. Luz’s entire case was also discussed with the Rutgers Cancer Institute Tumor Board. These boards feature experts in medical/surgical oncology, pathology, bioinformatics and genetics, who collaboratively review all cancer cases and create personalized treatment plans. She was in good hands.
Luz was able to have her final surgery at Monmouth Medical Center with Dr. Boyan and Dr. Victor Gall, also a surgical oncologist.
A few months later, an MRI and tumor markers were completely clean and six months from her original surgery, Luz had a phenomenal outcome.
“We made the best use of our entire healthcare system and the experts we have access to,” explains Dr. Boyan. “In this situation, if we didn’t perform, the ‘routine’ gallbladder removal, we may never have caught the cancer.”
ACERCA RWJBARNABAS HEALTH
RWJBarnabas Health es el sistema de salud académico más grande y completo de Nueva Jersey, que brinda atención médica a más de cinco millones de personas cada año. Reconocido a nivel nacional por su calidad y seguridad, el sistema cuenta con 14 hospitales y 9,000 médicos afiliados, que en conjunto ofrecen atención médica en más de 700 instalaciones para pacientes.
RWJBarnabas Health colabora con las comunidades donde se encuentran sus instalaciones para construir y mantener un Nueva Jersey más saludable, brindando atención centrada en el paciente de manera compasiva. Además, es el mayor proveedor de atención médica en el estado y líder en abordar los determinantes sociales de la salud. RWJBarnabas Health dispone de programas de distribución de alimentos, alojamiento para quienes no tienen hogar y oportunidades económicas para los más necesitados.
El compromiso de RWJBarnabas Health de ampliar el acceso a los servicios de atención médica incluye una asociación transformadora con Rutgers University, que integra el Rutgers Cancer Institute — el único Centro Integral de Cáncer designado por el NCI en el estado — y la Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
RWJBarnabas Health es uno de los mayores empleadores privados de Nueva Jersey, con más de 44,000 empleados, y aporta más de 7 mil millones de dólares para la economía estatal cada año.
Para más información, visite www.RWJBH.org.
ABOUT RWJBARNABAS HEALTH
RWJBarnabas Health is New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive academic health system, caring for more than five million people annually. Nationally renowned for quality and safety, the system includes 14 hospitals and 9,000 affiliated physicians integrated to provide care at more than 700 patient care locations.
RWJBarnabas Health partners with its communities to build and sustain a healthier New Jersey. It provides patient-centered care in a compassionate manner and is the state’s largest safety-net provider and leader in addressing the social determinants of health. RWJBarnabas Health provides food to the hungry, housing for the homeless and economic opportunities to those most vulnerable.
RWJBarnabas Health’s commitment to enhancing access to care includes a transformative partnership with Rutgers University, including the Rutgers Cancer Institute — the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
RWJBarnabas Health is among New Jersey’s largest private employers, with more than
44,000 employees, contributing more than $7 billion to the state economy every year.
For more information, visit www.RWJBH.org