The ‘Mother Standard’
comes to the Northeast

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Lynette Bisconti now calls Philadelphia the "City of Motherly Love."
When Bisconti and her husband learned she was pregnant in December 1997, they were overjoyed. Three weeks later, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
The mother-to-be sought eight medical opinions. Six doctors told her to have an abortion, but she refused. She did have a mastectomy at a Chicago hospital.
Her medical scare, though, remained until she discovered Cancer Treatment Centers of America. She appreciated the smiles, hugs and words of encouragement from the staff that went along with advanced treatment and therapy. She underwent chemotherapy during her second trimester of pregnancy at the CTCA facility in Illinois. She spent Mother’s Day in the hospital.
The saga ended well, as Bisconti gave birth to a son, Frankie, and has been cancer-free for eight years.
"We both love living every day," she said.
Bisconti attributes her recovery to CTCA’s "Mother Standard" — the staff’s mission of caring for every patient like they’d want their mother treated.
The Mother Standard has come to Philadelphia, as CTCA held a grand-opening celebration last week for its new facility at 1331 E. Wyoming Ave., the site of the former Parkview Hospital, which closed in September 2003.
Bisconti received a standing ovation for her moving speech and joined other survivors in handing sunflowers to CTCA staffers who best exemplified the Mother Standard.
Phil Olson, a pastor from Mount Holly, N.J., also outlined his story. Diagnosed with prostate cancer last October, he suffered minimal side effects during his treatment and is now cancer free.
"I can’t stop telling people about CTCA," he said.
Local singer and television personality Lauren Hart, a cancer survivor, kicked off the ceremony by singing God Bless America. Guests listened to speeches, watched a video of cancer survivors, witnessed a fireworks display and enjoyed the sounds of a live band.
CTCA was founded in 1988 by Dick Stephenson, who was not satisfied with the care received by his cancer-stricken mom. Mary Brown Stephenson received "dismal, impersonal" treatment before dying of bladder cancer, her son said.
Today, there are also CTCA hospitals in Illinois, Oklahoma and Seattle.
The local facility consists of three floors, with 18 inpatient rooms, 18 outpatient rooms, four intensive care rooms, two surgery suites, a radiation therapy and infusion center, a clinic and a resource center for patients and their families.
John McNeil, the president and CEO of the local hospital, said CTCA treats its patients as people.
"They are mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters and sons and daughters," he said.
State Rep. John Taylor (R-177th dist.) and state Sen. Tina Tartaglione (D-2nd dist.) attended the festivities. Tartaglione presented Stephenson with a Senate citation and spoke of her sister Margie, who has battled breast cancer for a decade. The lawmaker knows how difficult life is for people with cancer.
"For all you survivors out there, God love you," she said.
Nancy Brinker, a former U.S. ambassador to Hungary, told the crowd that her sister did not receive great care when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. After her sister’s death, Brinker founded the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. A breast cancer survivor, she likes CTCA’s approach to treatment because the hospital empowers patients.
"They want to be part of the decision," she said.
Stephenson said CTCA’s success is a dream that developed out of a nightmare. The key to success is to listen to patients and give them a say in their treatment. No detail is too small, he said, explaining that the hospital will order a patient’s favorite cable channel if it’s not on the system and fix his favorite meal, even if it’s not on the menu.
The chairman promised quality care for Philadelphia-area cancer patients.
"We’re going to deliver here in the Delaware Valley," he said. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com