Anonymous

In 2021 around the Christmas holidays, I started feeling ill, I could not eat anything, and I was losing weight, I did not know what was going on, but I knew something wasn’t right. I could not get an appointment with anyone during the holidays, after several weeks I was finally able to see a gastroenterologist, he recommended some tests which took several weeks to schedule and have completed.

In February of 2022 I was diagnosed with pancreas cancer. I did not know what to do, I was in a panic, and thought I should start with a major cancer center like Mayo Clinic or Memorial Sloan-Kettering. It seemed like I would need to out of state for this. As I started doing research, I found Jupiter Medical Center’s Anderson Family Cancer Institute and Dr. Shanel Bhagwandin. Jupiter Medical Center is a world class hospital and it looked like the place to go. World class was important to me, the fact that it is a not-for-profit hospital was also important to me. The Anderson Family Cancer Institute is stunning, everybody wants the newest technology, new facilities, but above everything else a team of physicians with the expertise to take care of my diagnosis. I called Dr. Bhagwandin’ s office and was able to get an appointment to see him.

I gathered my medical records and went to see him, at our first meeting he told me if my cancer had metastasized there was nothing that could be done. I went into a panic again, wondering if I should go out of state to Johns Hopkins, or a similar hospital. But I researched Dr. Bhagwandin, he has a great background, impressive training, and experience at Mount Sinai in New York. That reassured me that I was in the right place, I would not have to travel, and I could have my care close to home.

So, I made the decision to go with Dr. Bhagwandin, he is caring, warm, and compassionate. I felt good about my decision. My sister, on the other hand, said she would never have done that, she would have gone to New York. But I was confident in my decision and put myself in his hands.

I was also impressed with my medical oncologist, Dr. Debra Brandt. I saw her for chemotherapy prior to my surgery, she told me that I had a less than 10% chance of the cancer not metastasizing which would prevent me from having surgery. I had chemotherapy, the nurses in that unit were amazing! The chemo worked, it brought me to the point that I was able to have surgery, a very complex procedure called a modified Appleby, more complex than a Whipple procedure. Dr. Bhagwandin told me I had a 20% chance of not surviving the surgery, but I did. Look at me, I did not die!

Dr. Nathan Tennyson was another member of the team I met with to discuss radiation therapy, he was kind and caring and would not leave the room until all my questions were answered.

The surgery was difficult, and recovery was very difficult, but I have recovered well. I am feeling better than I did before surgery. While I was recovering, I had to place my dog in day care until I was well enough to care for him. The second time I walked him he inadvertently pulled me down to the ground and I injured my shoulder. My physical therapist took notes on everything and informed Dr. Bhagwandin. He in turn called to check on me, I was amazed that he would do that, he is so warm and caring.

I have nothing but the highest praise for my team of physicians and the care I received. I saw Dr. Bhagwandin for a follow up visit in mid-December, he told me I was his favorite patient and gave me a hug. I am incredibly grateful I chose not to go anywhere else; I don’t think I could have gotten better care than I did at Jupiter Medical Center.