Jeanne Whetstine: A Journey Through GIST, Kidney, and Lung Cancer

My experience at Fox Chase Cancer Center began during my retirement, a time when most people look forward to relaxing and pursuing hobbies. I had enjoyed a long career in retail and I loved that I had the opportunity to work in places all over the country, most recently in California.

When I turned 75, I decided it was time to retire. I moved to the Philadelphia area because I wanted to be closer to my son, Johnathan, who is Director of the Cancer Epigenetics Institute at Fox Chase. But I never imagined I’d end up being a patient there, especially after beating cancer several times already.

A History With Cancer

Throughout my life, I have overcome cancer three previous times. In 2015, I was diagnosed with kidney cancer and a gastrointestinal stromal tumor, also known as GIST, a type of tumor that begins in the digestive system, which was spotted on a scan. A few years later, I also had my thyroid removed following a cancer diagnosis. All of these cancers occurred with no symptoms and no family history and were treated with surgery. But due to them being caught early, I was able to avoid chemotherapy or radiation.

Because of my previous diagnoses, I went to the doctor for follow-up care and scans often, making sure I stayed on top of appointments and getting screened appropriately. In October of 2020 it had been about five years since I completed treatment for kidney cancer and GIST. I was coming to Fox Chase for follow up care and my scans because I had just moved to the area to be near my family. The first physician I met with was Dr. Pooja Ghatalia, a medical oncologist specializing in genitourinary cancers. I was immediately impressed with both her bedside manner and professionalism. She told me that while everything related to my previous cancers looked good, they had found a spot on my lung after doing some comprehensive body scans, so I was diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer.

I was devastated. I couldn’t believe it was happening again. I felt scared and somewhat defeated but I knew that Fox Chase was the place to get my treatment. It also helped that I knew my son would be with me through this experience, as he was during my prior bouts with cancer.

Finding a Fox Chase Family 

Dr. Ghatalia immediately got me an appointment with Dr. Christopher Manley, an interventional pulmonologist. He consulted with other physicians at Fox Chase, and they recommended I have laparoscopic surgery to remove the tumor. The tumor was small, so I was hoping the surgery could wait until after Christmas, but they approached it head on and I was scheduled just weeks later in November.

I was incredibly happy with the care I received. November of 2020 was the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was a stressful time for most hospitals. However, the interactions I had with every person who came into my room were so positive that I felt content during my entire stay.

Everyone from the nurses to the physicians made me their first priority. Even though my son was in the room with me and knew many people at Fox Chase, the focus was always on me. It was reassuring to both me and Johnathan because it meant that although he was willing to be in the room with me, he didn’t have to be there for me to get the best care because they treated me like family.

Following surgery, I was in the hospital for about two days before I was able to go home. Even after I was home, Fox Chase doctors checked in with me to make sure my recovery was going well. Now, I follow up with Dr. Stacey Su, Chief of Thoracic Surgery.

Giving Back After Treatment

Once I fully recovered, I wanted something to do during my retirement. So, I put my extensive retail background to work and decided to give back to the place that helped me through my cancer experience.

I started volunteering at the gift shop every Friday and anywhere else on the Fox Chase campus I could be of service. It has been a great experience meeting new people and getting to see my son every week at the place we both hold in such high regard. As if that wasn’t enough of a reward, in 2023 I received the President’s Bronze Volunteer Service award from Joe Biden for my 229 hours of service to Fox Chase, and I received the Silver Award in 2024 for 309 hours of service. It feels great to give back!

I get to meet many incredible patients every week and feel very fortunate that because of regular screening, all of my cancers were found early enough that I didn’t have to undergo radiation or chemotherapy.

I’ve now been free of lung cancer for five years. I tell people all the time to advocate for themselves and get screened because it can save your life like it did mine. If you have a question or don’t understand something about your treatment, don’t be afraid to ask because it’s your body.

I recommend Fox Chase to everyone I know whether it’s for their very first appointment or a second opinion, because either way, you’re in the right hands. 

Learn more about treatment for lung cancer, GIST, and kidney cancer at Fox Chase Cancer Center.