Westbury resident Ken Raikowski, 65, hadn鈥檛 seen a doctor for more than 40 years when, in the summer of 2016, he suddenly didn鈥檛 feel well, waking up sluggish and in a cold sweat. He visited a general practitioner who felt his abdomen, ordered a CT scan, and upon reviewing it, referred him to a gastroenterologist who scheduled a colonoscopy.
In preparation for the procedure, Raikowski drank one gallon of the required liquid which then became obstructed, swelling in his abdomen. He was brought to NYU Winthrop Hospital鈥檚 emergency department where a surgical oncology team began a complex operation to repair Raikowski鈥檚 blocked intestine, and remove colon cancer that had spread to his bladder which the doctors discovered.
鈥淎 multidisciplinary approach was key to eradicating Ken鈥檚 cancer,鈥 explains surgical oncologist Megan D. Winner, MD, who has extensive gastric and colorectal expertise. 鈥淚t is rare to have a patient with a single problem that requires a single doctor. The treatment of cancer, in particular, has become increasingly complex because of advancements in treatment options, and it is a complex equation knowing how to apply exactly the right treatment at the right time.鈥
Anthony Corcoran, MD, NYU Winthrop鈥檚 director of urologic oncology and a leading expert on bladder cancer, was also part of Raikowski鈥檚 team. Together, Dr. Winner and Dr. Corcoran removed part of his small intestine, colon, bladder, and abdominal wall, including cancerous tumors and blockages while preserving the integrity of surrounding noncancerous organs and tissue.聽
To protect the ureter that drains the kidney, Dr. Corcoran dissected it from a tumor mass on the bladder. He then conducted a partial bladder resection before restoring the ureter to its natural position, which enabled Raikowski to maintain his quality of life with a functioning bladder.
Dr. Winner performed intricate surgery on Raikowski鈥檚 intestine and colon including a temporary ileostomy, in which an opening in the abdomen called a stoma allows waste to collect in an ostomy bag. Following his recovery from surgery, medical oncologist Prashanti M. Atluri, MD, administered Ken鈥檚 chemotherapy. Months later, once his treatments were completed, Dr. Winner reversed Raikowski鈥檚 ileostomy.
Two years later, Raikowski remains cancer-free, and thankful for the NYU Winthrop oncology team that saved his life. 鈥淭hey took me apart and put me back together,鈥 describes Ken. 鈥淚 have a new lease on life. I never experienced any major pain or discomfort, and I鈥檓 also grateful for that.鈥
Inspired by Dr. Winner鈥檚 survivorship presentation, Raikowski attends free weekly exercise programs for cancer survivors sponsored by nonprofit Strength for Life. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to consider the whole person when treating cancer,鈥 says Dr. Winner, 鈥淎t NYU Winthrop, we look at the possibilities offered through technology, surgery, and medicine but also integrate into our care psychological, emotional, and family and survivorship considerations.鈥
Raikowski hopes to make a difference in the lives of his family members. He has strongly encouraged his 37-year-old son to have his first colonoscopy early, knowing this preventive screening just might save his life.
