Mom with Endometrial Cancer Thankful for Fast Treatment at Duke
Raquel Ferreyra had just separated from her husband and was adjusting to life as a single mother of three teenagers when she was diagnosed with endometrial cancer. After a frustrating experience at a local clinic, Ferreyra contacted Duke and was seen within days. Today she shows no signs of cancer and is thankful for the support she received at the Duke Cancer Center, and from her family and community.
Medical Family Therapy Helps Family Cope with Dad’s Cancer
When Joe McFadden received cancer treatment at Duke, his eight-year-old son, Emerson, worried that his dad would be lonely. Duke medical family therapist Ellie Bautista, MT-BC, LMFT, stepped in to help Emerson make a music playlist to comfort his father.
Helping families and patients like the McFaddens navigate the complexities of cancer treatment and recovery is the goal of medical family therapists at Duke Cancer Centers across the Triangle. Duke Cancer Institute’s Patient Support Program offers these and other services cost-free.
Gene Therapy Halts Vision Loss from Retinitis Pigmentosa
Tyler Wilfong was born with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a rare collection of inherited eye diseases that slowly robbed his vision. Last year, he went to the Duke Eye Center, one of the few eye hospitals in the U.S. performing gene therapy to halt the disease’s progression. Now Wilfong can work again and watch his baby boy grow. “It’s been life-changing,” he said.
