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Dad's 'Unicorn' Cancer Metastasized to His Heart
16 May
Summary
- A 32-year-old was diagnosed with rare Merkel cell carcinoma five years ago.
- The cancer uniquely spread to his heart, a very unusual location.
- He received pioneering radiation treatment, becoming the first such patient.
Five years ago, Cam Cerro, then 32, received a diagnosis of Merkel cell carcinoma, an aggressive and rare skin cancer. Initially treated for a tumor on his leg, the cancer returned, this time in an exceptionally unusual location: his heart. Doctors described his case as "a unicorn" due to the rarity of metastasis to the heart.
Due to the difficult and potentially dangerous nature of treating heart cancer, especially in a young patient, researchers and oncologists devised an innovative treatment plan. Dr. Ravi Patel, a radiation oncologist, led the effort to use radiation therapy on Cerro's heart, a procedure for which there were no standard protocols.
Cerro underwent 15 radiation sessions over three weeks, becoming the first patient at UPMC Hillman to receive such treatment. This pioneering approach was successful, with subsequent scans showing the cancer had disappeared. Now, three years later, Cerro is healthy and participating in the Rush to Crush Cancer event to support cancer research.
