New hospital technology in Pittsburgh plays crucial role in saving woman’s life

Surgery is often a part of cancer treatment plans for those battling the disease. However, many times, cancer cells are left behind, along with lurking tumors waiting to grow. A new piece of technology at UPMC Passavant Hospital has helped save lives, like Nancy Barton’s. Nancy battled cancer once before and the prospect of fighting lung cancer was daunting, especially with nine grandchildren to think about. Dr. Ryan Levy and Dr. Nicholas Baker created a surgery plan for her, using a first-of-its-kind injectable dye to illuminate the cancer spots on her lungs.

The doctors were able to see precisely where the cancer was located, allowing them to carve out the spots instead of removing large portions of her lungs. This helped improve the quality of Nancy’s life after surgery. Now, three months after her operation, Nancy is grateful to be cancer-free and able to live her life without worrying about the disease. The doctors described the dye as making it easier to find cancer spots, comparing it to finding a brightly colored marble in a big car wash sponge.

Nancy hopes that others facing a cancer diagnosis know that they have treatment options available. She is thankful for the technology and expertise that saved her life. The doctors at UPMC Passavant are dedicated to early detection and treatment of cancer, aiming to identify smaller and smaller lesions in the future to improve patient outcomes. Just like Nancy, many patients can benefit from the advancements in cancer treatment that are available today.