Pottstown woman overcomes Stage 3 colorectal cancer
On YouTube, Lourdes Mei-Ling Contento is the “look-out lady,” offering reviews and tours of local, family-focused attractions. But three years ago, traveling was the last thing on Lourdes’ mind due to a puzzling set of gastrointestinal (GI) related symptoms.
It started in February 2021 with bouts of nausea. “I thought I was just sick from bad food,” says Lourdes, of Pottstown. Six months later, she experienced severe pain in her side. She went to a hospital near her home, where doctors determined she needed to have her gallbladder removed.
Lourdes felt better initially after the surgery. But by October 2021, her symptoms returned with a vengeance. She began having difficulty going to the bathroom and developed rectal bleeding. One doctor thought she had diverticulitis, an inflammation in her colon, but treatment didn’t help. She had lost 55 pounds, was often dehydrated and couldn’t find the cause of her pain.
Timely referral
Desperate for answers, Lourdes’ husband, Robert, began asking his co-workers for doctors who could help his wife. One of them recommended experts at Grand View Health. So, Robert and Lourdes made the 45-minute drive to U.S. Digestive Health in Sellersville, where Lourdes underwent a colonoscopy. The test revealed that Lourdes had a malignant mass in her colon. It was Stage 3 colorectal cancer.
“I found out on November 17, 2021—14 days after my 44th birthday,” Lourdes says. “Thankfully, they told me there was a good doctor nearby who could see me right away.” That doctor was Daniel Latta, MD, a double-board-certified colorectal surgeon with Grand View Health Surgery.
When Lourdes and Robert met Dr. Latta, he drew up a treatment plan. Lourdes would receive surgery to remove the cancerous mass, followed by six months of chemotherapy under the watch of Howard Zipin, MD, a hematologist and medical oncologist with Alliance Cancer Specialists, located in Grand View’s Sellersville Outpatient Center.
Dr. Latta performed the colorectal surgery on December 21, 2021. Three days later, on Christmas Eve, Lourdes returned home. “My family called me their little Christmas miracle,” she says.
At every step of her treatment, Lourdes felt supported by Dr. Latta. “He is exceptional, caring and supporting, and he pays attention to every detail,” she says. For example, when Lourdes said her hands and feet were cold after chemotherapy treatments, Dr. Latta recognized the symptoms of signs of peripheral neuropathy. “He gave me a prescription to have physical therapy so I could take care of it,” she says.
“Dr. Latta has a way of explaining things and making you feel comfortable,” adds Robert. “He lays out all the options and tells you what he thinks is best. He’s very modest, polite and professional.”
Complete remission
Lourdes says her journey was emotional, but she remained focused on her recovery. “I have an 8-year-old son, and I knew I had to stay strong for him,” she says.
Today, Lourdes’ cancer is in full remission. “My journey opened my eyes to taking better care of my body,” she says. “And I don’t wait until the last minute to see the doctor anymore.” Lourdes, now 46, is more active. She walks every day and has no trouble keeping up with students during her day job, working as a proctor in the Pottstown School District.
She’s so thankful for the care provided by the team at Grand View, she recently had Dr. Latta autograph a copy of HealthView magazine that featured his photograph. “He has made a lasting impact on my life and well-being,” Lourdes says. “I call him my guardian angel.”