Life-saving Science: Chris Williams' Lung Cancer Story
October 31, 2024
In May 2022, Chris Williams retired from a rewarding career in the animal health industry where he helped pilot the Embrex in Ovo vaccination system to prevent cancer in poultry, ensuring the global production of healthy and safe chickens.
"Multiple diseases are prevented by the use of vaccines injected into eggs. That was a big breakthrough for the industry, with labor savings, better protection and the whole gamut."
Little did Chris realize that he, too, would benefit from scientific breakthroughs in cancer research, but this time — as it pertained to his own well-being.
Crashing Into the Truth
On November 7, 2023, Chris and his wife, Barbara, were enjoying their beach home at Sneeds Ferry near Topsail Beach, NC. Chris was on a ladder trimming tree limbs when one side of the ladder began to sink in the sand.
"My wife was with me, and the ladder started sinking. It was really strange and happened in slow motion."
Chris fell about 10 feet and crashed onto his heel with his leg extended on the roots of a cedar tree.
"The pain was excruciating, so we packed up and went to an urgent care facility in Jacksonville. They took X-rays, diagnosed me with an open compound fracture of the calcaneus bone (heel) and put my foot in a boot."
Because of the severity of the injury, they informed Chris he would need to be transferred to a trauma center in Greenville, NC, so they placed him on a stretcher and loaded him into an ambulance. Despite administration of pain medications, Chris was in crushing pain. Not long into the ride, he requested that the ambulance stop. His wife loaded him into their vehicle, cushioning him with numerous pillows and slowly drove him to the hospital.
"I was simply overwhelmed. My blood pressure was 200/150. As soon as I saw my wife, my pressure began to drop, and I had the will to endure the 90-minute ride to the hospital."
Orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Russell Norris admitted Chris and sent him to imaging for a whole body computed tomography (CT) scan to ensure there were no additional fractures. Upon inspection of the results on November 8, radiologist Douglas Shusterman, MD, spotted a soft tissue density mass in the hilar region of his lung, measuring 35 millimeters that he suspected of possible malignancy.
Returning Home to WakeMed
Chris told his daughter Layla Kilmer, a physician assistant with Wake Emergency Physicians associated with WakeMed about his lung cancer diagnosis. She immediately reached out to her colleagues and found Alden Maier, MD, FACS, FACCP, a WakeMed cardiothoracic surgeon to get him scheduled for an appointment following his return to Apex.
Meanwhile, Dr. Norris operated on Chris' fractured foot.
Chris explains, "He put three pins through the back of my heel to stabilize the bone. Two of them went into the talus bone, above my heel bone. One of them went into the middle of my foot. They stitched up the wound and put a cast on it. It was a Frankenstein looking contraption on my foot, so I couldn't walk."
On November 10, staff from the WakeMed Heart & Vascular - Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery - Raleigh Campus called to schedule him for an appointment on November 15. Dr. Maier ordered a lung function test which came back clear. Chris also had a respiratory test on November 20.
On November 30, he underwent a positron emission tomography (PET) scan with glucose tracer that had been ordered by Dr. Maier.
"The scan surveys everywhere," Chris notes, "because the tumor cells pick up glucose, and, therefore, they can image it quickly. They're looking for fast-growing cells, and that was what the imaging revealed."
On December 4, Kevin Davidson, MD, a WakeMed pulmonologist, performed a minimally invasive robotic-assisted bronchoscopy which confirmed Chris' diagnosis. Dr. Davidson also ordered a robotic biopsy for December 12.
"Dr. Davidson was great," says Chris. "He said, 'I'm the plumber who figures out what's going on, and then I hand you off to the oncologist.'"
Armed with numerous tests to determine the size and stage of the lung cancer, he was then referred to Praveen Namireddy, MD, a WakeMed oncologist, whom he met on December 19 to review the treatment schedule.
"Dr. Maier, Davidson and Namireddy meet each Wednesday to discuss their cases and mine was one of them, so they collaborated as a core team to determine the best plan for me."
In the midst of medical testing for his cancer, Chris continued to receive treatment for his fractured foot. Corey Thompson, MD, a Wake Orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeon, met with him beginning November 17, at Wake Orthopaedics - Oberlin, removing his cast and adding new dressing every two weeks to gage healing of his foot and ensure there were no infections.
"I had an external fixator and a cast. I was wheelchair bound, and my cancer treatments had to be carefully scheduled so as not to cause further damage to my foot."
"It feels strange to say this, but Mr. Williams was fortunate to have sustained this injury — he was able to uncover a more serious medical issue because of the imaging studies that needed to be performed to evaluate his foot injury," notes Dr. Thompson. "As a patient, I can only imagine he might feel overwhelmed and want to give up hope when faced with so much misfortune all at once, but he has maintained a positive attitude through all of this and has worked hard to recover from his disabling foot injury. I've really enjoyed caring for his orthopaedic injuries. It's been personally rewarding to help him overcome so much adversity."
Dr. Namireddy was concerned about swelling and infection that could occur in his foot due to chemotherapy. He diagnosed Chris with stage 2B lung cancer. Since the tumor was not extremely fast growing, the team was able to delay chemotherapy and aggressive cancer treatments until his foot was out of the cast with the pins removed, making it was safe to proceed with treatment.
"During the holiday season, I was going back and forth between the calcaneus bone healing and getting the pins removed. It was a hard time in my life," Chris recalls with tears in his eyes. "My wife, Barbara, was my angel miracle lady, and she had to do everything for me which was difficult because I am very independent. I was immobilized and dependent upon her for my care. She was completely dedicated to me, putting me on a bulking protein diet in which I gained 10 pounds in preparation for cancer treatments."
Receiving State-of-the-Art Cancer Care
Dr. Namireddy views cancer as a systemic disease. Cancer originates in a specific organ and can expand locally through direct extension as well as metastasize through the bloodstream and lymphatic system.
Chris observes, "My studies on cancer in chickens demonstrated that a herpetic virus which caused their cancer moved via white blood cells into the spleen. The virus then traveled to the liver and nervous system. Although my cancer cells began as a change in my lung tissue, not as a virus, and developed into the adenocarcinoma, it is the same methodology. My cancer began in my lungs and had not spread to nearby lymph nodes, which was a really good sign."
Chris' first treatment began on January 18 and ran through March 15 at WakeMed Cancer Care - Waverly Hematology & Medical Oncology - Cary. He received chemotherapy and immunotherapy every three weeks by infusion for six hours per session.
"I was lucky not to have too many side-effects," Chris reflects. "I mostly had deep bone pain. I'd had a hip replacement, so my hip hurt. My fractured foot also had pain. Additionally, each of the long bones in my body were in pain. I worked with Gretchen Reichmann, PA, led by Paul Carnes, MD, of Raleigh Neurology Associates, for pain control. They were awesome."
Undergoing Surgical Removal of the Tumor
Once the tumor shrank enough, Dr. Maier then went in and performed a lobectomy on April 18 at Cary Hospital.
"Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy has shown promise in treating lung cancer by enhancing the immune system's ability to recognize and attack tumors before surgical resection," explains Dr. Namireddy. "Advances in this approach are improving patient outcomes, offering new hope in early-stage and locally advanced lung cancer management."
Dr. Maier was pleased to find that the chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments had worked well. In isolating the tumor and minimizing its footprint, the margins of the tumor were very well demarcated, thus better defining her surgical procedures. She followed up with a biopsy of the margins, reviewing eight removed lymph nodes, and everything was negative except for the tumor itself.
"Dr. Maier and her team did a great job, and I'm glad I had her all along in my cancer journey."
Chris' Life Today
In September, Chris had another PET scan, which showed his body was completely clear of cancer. To help prevent a reoccurrence, the team will continue to administer a monoclonal antibody immunotherapy, every three weeks for a year.
Aside from cancer and orthopaedic treatments, Chris began spending more time in his hot tub to address pain. He continues with this at-home therapy to this today. He also spends a lot of time at his beach house between treatments, getting together with his wife, four daughters and their husbands and boyfriends to enjoy time together. These memories have proved very therapeutic for him, and they continue to gather regularly at the beach.
"I am now back to playing my guitar, as I've played for about 40 years. I love fly fishing and have a house in the mountains I frequent. I'm also a painter and enjoy painting on wood. I made a special painting for Dr. Maier to thank her for all she did for me."
About WakeMed Cancer Care – Hematology & Medical Oncology
At WakeMed Cancer Care, we understand that being diagnosed with a blood disorder or cancer can feel overwhelming. Recognizing the fear and uncertainty a patient may be experiencing, we are committed to walking alongside our patients, to support, guide and render the most compassionate care for as long as we’re needed.
The most important member of our community is you. That’s why we created a community of caregivers who surround our patients with proven medical and surgical expertise, state-of-the-art-technology, world-class nursing care, advanced physical rehabilitation services and specialized support services.
No matter your condition or stage, our multidisciplinary team treats your cancer with the latest technologies and the highest standards of clinical quality.
About WakeMed Heart & Vascular
WakeMed Heart & Vascular physicians bring together expert cardiovascular, thoracic and vascular surgeons who are dedicated to delivering the highest level of cardiovascular care in Raleigh, Apex, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Garner and Clayton, N.C. For decades, these physicians have chosen to bring their talent and expertise to WakeMed for its reputation for excellence in cardiovascular care and commitment to providing the most exceptional patient experience.
About WakeMed Imaging
WakeMed Imaging Services is a full-service imaging department offering advanced technology, convenient access and prompt testing and results. As professionals who have a true passion for care and caring, we focus on providing excellent, individualized service to each patient.
About Wake Orthopaedics
For 20 years, Wake Orthopaedics has been serving the Triangle community with comprehensive orthopaedic care to help their patients regain their mobility and restore their quality of life. With specialties and expertise in conditions of the bones, muscles and joints, our team of board-certified and fellowship-trained specialists utilize progressive treatments and state-of-the-art technology to care for everything from hip fractures to ACL injuries to arthritis. In addition to traditional orthopaedic services, Wake Orthopaedics provides trauma services, rehabilitation services and care for pediatric injuries. Wake Orthopaedics is a WakeMed Physician Practice.
About WakeMed Pulmonology
Lung and respiratory disease can have a significant impact on your quality of life. That’s why having a caring team of providers to help you manage common conditions, such as asthma, COPD and sleep apnea – as well as the most complex lung and respiratory conditions – can help you and your family breathe easier.
We are proud to offer traditional pulmonology medicine services as well as sleep medicine, pulmonary hypertension care and state-of-the-art interventional pulmonary procedures. With convenient offices in Raleigh, Cary and Brier Creek, we are committed to expanding to meet the growing needs of this community.