Jacqueline (last name withheld to protect patient’s privacy) had no idea that her dream trip abroad to celebrate her 60th birthday would ultimately save her life. A lingering cough brought her to Alameda Health System (AHS), where she received expert, compassionate care that turned a frightening diagnosis into a story of resilience and remarkable recovery.
“When I returned home, I got my cough checked out with my primary care doctor at another health system. He referred me to Dr. Tze-Ming Chen “Benson,” chief of pulmonary and critical care at Highland Hospital, for further testing, and I was ultimately diagnosed with stage 1A cancer in my lung,” said Jacqueline. “It was a complete shock since I’ve never smoked a day in my life.”
While the cough eventually subsided, Jaqueline had a challenging journey ahead of her – one filled with uncertainty but also strength, clarity and trust in her AHS care team.
With the support of Dr. Chen and the full surgical team, lead by Gregory Victorino MD, chief of surgery and surgical resident physicians Drs. Kian Banks and Emily Kao, Jacqueline navigated her diagnosis with the same fact-seeking mindset that has always guided her life.
Jacqueline described herself as someone who needs to know everything, good or bad. She arrived at each appointment with a notebook filled with detailed questions from research she had done on her own. “I brought pages and pages of notes,” she said with a laugh. “And every single person on my care team, regardless of their role, took the time to answer them all.”
This level of care was a sharp contrast to Jacqueline’s past experiences outside of AHS, where appointments often felt rushed and impersonal. She was also struck by the diversity of her AHS care team, noting that before coming to the Wilma Chan Highland Hospital Campus (WCHHC), she had never had a Black doctor. “As a Black woman, seeing people who looked like me in the operating room made me feel safer and seen,” she said.
The support and connection she felt inspired Jacqueline to play an active role in her care, something Dr. Banks admired. “She asked excellent, insightful questions about what to expect before and after surgery,” he said. “She also approached her recovery with impressive determination and a commitment to our recommendations, which is often easier said than done.”
Jaqueline underwent Video-Assisted Thoracosopic (VAT) surgery, a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to access the chest cavity for operating on the lungs. One third of her lung was removed and her surgeon Dr. Victorino said, “Her cancer was diagnosed early and without spread to any lymph nodes. It’s about the best outcome we could ever expect and a perfect example of the excellent care we provide at AHS.”
Jacqueline shared that after four days in the hospital, she recovered at home with very little pain. In fact, she was up cooking the next day. “My sister had to keep telling me to sit down and rest,” she said with a laugh.
Today, she’s still exceeding her own expectations for recovery, with daily walks, quality time with friends and family, and her passion for reading.
Jacqueline’s patient experience and excellent outcome underscores AHS’s commitment to patient-centered care, leaving her deeply moved and grateful for the exceptional support she received.
“I’m so grateful to the entire care team at Highland Hospital,” she said. “From the very start, everyone I met was focused on me and my needs, which really eased my anxiety. I hadn’t experienced that kind of care before, but it made all the difference.”