KathyPio

When Kathy Pio fi rst learned she had breast cancer in early March, she immediately thought of the worst-case scenario. “I kept thinking about losing my hair and what I would have to go through,” she says. “I was scared of the unknown until I went to the Florida Hospital Waterman Cancer Institute.”

After diagnosis, Kathy says Drs. Maen Hussein, medical oncologist, and Borys Mascarenhas, Lake County’s only fellowship-trained surgical oncologist, completely put her mind at ease. “They explained everything to me,” she says. “Dr. Hussein went over my numbers with me and my lab report. He explained that everything would be fine because the cancer was caught early.”

To fight the disease, Kathy underwent breast-conserving therapy incorporating the state-of-the-art SAVI treatment, an advanced form of radiation therapy that only delivers radiation to the tissue where the cancer is most likely to recur. Drs. Robert Purdon and Jeffery Brabham, radiation oncologists at Florida Hospital Waterman, performed the treatment and instead of weeks of radiation or a mastectomy, Kathy only had to have five days of radiation treatment. “It wasn’t that bad. It only took me away from work for two weeks,” says the 48-year-old Eustis resident, “and that was important because I’m a dog groomer.”

At Florida Hospital Waterman Cancer Institute, Kathy says all of the doctors and staff made her feel at home. Even with her follow-ups, Kathy does not dread the visits because of the friendly atmosphere and caring employees. “They are all very nice and you can see the camaraderie, which is wonderful,” she says. “I just feel so blessed my cancer was caught early, and I feel even more blessed that the Florida Hospital Waterman Cancer Institute was there to help me.”

Florida Hospital Waterman Cancer Institute

Robert L. Purdon, M.D., Radiation Oncologist

Jeffrey G. Brabham, M.D., Radiation Oncologist 4000 Waterman Way, Tavares, Florida 32778 352.253.3600 www.fhwat.org

Dedicated to providing the most cutting-edge care available, Florida Hospital Waterman Cancer Institute (FHWCI) is home to Drs. Robert Purdon and Jeffrey Brabham. Both are board-certified in radiation oncology and represent the best of the best in their field. They are not only highly regarded professionals with years of practical experience, they are dedicated to using state-of-the-art technologies in the prediction, detection, and treatment of cancer.