Dr. Warren Alperstein is a pediatric hematologist-oncologist at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. For more information about the AYA Program for Adolescent and Young Adult Cancers, click here or visit the UHealth blog.
MEET CANDELA GONZALEZ MARENGO:
Candela Gonzalez Marengo was just shy of 15 when she was diagnosed with AML or acute myeloid leukemia.
“I played sports. I was going to school. Yeah, I felt bad. I never thought it was going to be leukemia,” says Candela.
Her family traveled from Argentina to Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. That’s where she met Warren Alperstein, M.D., a pediatric hematologist-oncologist, who treats a special population of patients called AYA.
“This is AYA awareness week, and AYA is adolescent and young adults, which range from age 15, all the way up to 39,” Dr. Alperstein explains. “Here at Sylvester, we have a great AYA program that is able to service this age group. You get access to the pediatric oncology side, as well as the adult oncology side.”
Sylvester’s multidisciplinary team of experts meets the unique needs of these patients.
“Cardiologists that look at post chemotherapy complications. We have endocrinologists that look at specifically if there’s disorders there. It’s a whole team wide approach,” says Dr. Alperstein.
Candela needed a bone marrow transplant.
“They walked me through everything that was going on,” Candela says.
“As an NCI-designated cancer center, how does that help Sylvester to best treat its patients?” asks anchor Pam Giganti.
“You’re not just getting treated by what was standard of care five, 10 years ago. You’re getting the most up-to-date technologies,” Dr. Alperstein says.
Now cancer-free, Candela has a message for the team.
“Thank you so much for everything. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you,” says Candela.
FOCUSING ON YOU
Focusing on You: Innovations in Modern Medicine is a series of healthcare-related stories airing regularly on WPLG Local 10. For more stories like this one, visit YouTube channels for UHealth, the University of Miami Health System.
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