News & Media

Cancer Care November 14, 2022

A car accident saved my life

Had it not been for an automobile accident five years ago, 81-year-old Ann Draper may not have known she had pancreatic cancer before it was too late. “It was a miracle,” Ann said. “My car was thrown into someone’s backyard from the impact of the crash and the air bag hit me hard!” A visit […]

Cancer Care June 15, 2022

Annual Exams Critically Important

When 69-year-old Mark McNally of Palatine went for his annual exam his primary care physician, Arthur Hong, MD, noted there were no prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test results in his file. PSA is something made by the prostate gland — high PSA levels, determined through a simple blood test, may be a sign of prostate cancer, […]

Cancer Care January 18, 2022

Annual Exams and Preventive Screenings Save Lives

Beth, a suburban mother of three in her fifties, is thankful that she did not let concerns about COVID-19 stop her from getting an annual exam. That exam ultimately led to a stage 1a breast cancer diagnosis, a lumpectomy to remove a tumor and lymph nodes, and radiation treatment. Because of her family history of […]

Orthopedics November 1, 2021

Enjoying life’s simple pleasures, pain-free

After two knee replacements in less than two years, Pam Garceau shares her experience with both traditional and robotic procedures. When the little things you enjoy become difficult or impossible to do without pain, it’s time to find a solution. Sometimes – like in the case of Wheeling resident Pam Garceau – the solution includes […]

Patient Stories May 17, 2021

Life back to normal

For nearly three years, Rose Agriel, 42, of Chicago, was deprived of a full night’s sleep, waking up 4-6 times a night to use the bathroom. She woke up wet after most nights and regularly experienced urinary leakage throughout the daytime from coughing, sneezing, laughing and exercising. “I thought I had a kidney or bladder […]

Gastroenterology March 18, 2021

Colonoscopies are worth the inconvenience

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Health experts say this type of cancer is highly preventable, but becomes less easily treatable the later it is detected.

Cancer Care November 12, 2020

How far would you travel for the best care? You don’t have to!

When retired reference librarian Kevin Lause of Gibsonburg, Ohio was diagnosed with stage III pancreatic cancer, he was determined to find the best surgeon to perform his Whipple procedure, a specialized procedure that treats cancer of the pancreas while preserving the entire stomach. He read about Malcolm Bilimoria, M.D., a pancreas and liver surgeon at Northwest Community Healthcare and decided to seek consultation with him.

Cancer Care November 11, 2020

Breathe easier — advanced lung cancer screening and care are close to home

Mount Prospect resident Mary Jo Thelander has depended on NCH medical staff for her healthcare needs for more than 25 years. Her most serious need was in 2016. A CT scan of her lungs showed what appeared to be lung cancer. She shared with us her experience of surgery and healing.

Orthopedics October 27, 2020

A different kind of hip replacement

It was approximately three years ago when Wheeling resident Celia Johnson started experiencing what she considered an “annoying discomfort” in her right hip. “It wasn’t long until it progressed into consistent pain and limited range of motion,” Johnson describes. “As the pain increased I walked with a pronounced limp.”

In November 2019, Johnson finally received an official diagnosis ― osteoarthritis of the hip. And she finally decided it was time to do something about her pain.

Gastroenterology October 27, 2020

No ‘butts’ about it, this test is crucial

A colonoscopy is the most reliable way to prevent and detect colon cancer. Polyps are found in at least 25 percent of men and women over the age of 50 through colonoscopies. As most colon cancer begins as precancerous polyps (called adenomas), detecting and removing these polyps are key to preventing cancer. Learn about one patient’s experience having this procedure during the COVID-19 pandemic.