 OCTOBER 31 • 2019 | 47

‘Next Phase of Life’

Melanoma patient benefi
 ted from palliative care 
as he transitioned from treatment to hospice.

Health

T

he late Steven Averbuch, 
69, of West Bloomfield, 
was diagnosed with 
melanoma in 2012. Surgeons 
removed the melanoma on his 
chest and he was cleared of 
the cancer, which at the time 
had not spread. But then, two 
weeks after an all-clear five-
year checkup, the melanoma 
returned.
Again, surgeons removed it. 
Averbuch received immuno-
therapy for his cancer; but, after 
almost a year, he learned the 
cancer had spread. 
Averbuch went to a differ-
ent health system for a second 
opinion and to receive more 
extensive treatment. After that 
treatment was exhausted, he 
was referred to the Barbara Ann 
Karmanos Cancer Institute to 
go on a clinical trial. 
“It’
s an emotional thing to be 
told treatment is not working,
” 
he had said.
Averbuch benefited from pal-
liative care rather than continue 
treatments that were no longer 
effective. He passed away peace-
fully at home this summer.
“I tell (people) the word 
‘
palliative’
 is not a bad word,
” 
he had said. “It doesn’
t mean 
death tomorrow. It’
s a peaceful 
decision.
”
Averbuch, accompanied by 
his wife of 41 years, Maralyn, 
a member of Temple Shir 
Shalom, received palliative 
care from Elisheva Newman, 
M.D., a member of Karmanos’
 
Supportive Oncology 
Multidisciplinary Team (MDT). 
The Supportive Oncology 
MDT at Karmanos not only 
provides palliative care ser-
vices, its team members also 
offer psychology/psychiatry 
consultations, anesthesia and 
pain care as well as spiritual 

guidance. Newman practices 
out of Karmanos’
 Weisberg 
Cancer Treatment Center 
in Farmington Hills and in 
Detroit.
She said many people are 
confused by the term “palliative 
care.
”
“We like to tell people 
palliative care is about work-
ing with patients and family 
members who have advanced 
disease for symptom control to 
improve quality of life,
” she said. 
“Sometimes people 
need another per-
son to help them 
make decisions.
”
Palliative 
care also means 
Newman can 
collaborate with 
patients and their 
oncologists to improve com-
munication about treatment 
plans and goals. She works with 
patients on their medication 
doses and can assist with health 
insurance to clear the approval 
process for medications that will 
alleviate pain. Plus, she can help 
patients determine if a specific 
treatment is not helping and 
advise them, with input from 
their oncologist, if a treatment 
should be stopped.
Palliative care is often appro-
priate for cancer patients who 
are in advanced stages of the 
disease. However, Newman said 
palliative care can help many 
cancer patients.
“
Any time is appropriate for 
palliative care,
” she said. “We 
know patients do better with 
palliative care. They have a bet-
ter experience with their cancer 
and experience less depression. 
They spend less time in the 
hospital.
”
Palliative care also eases the 
transition between a patient 

receiving treat-
ment and entering 
hospice where he 
discontinues treat-
ment and receives 
comfort measures, 
according to 
Newman.
“I can’
t take away their can-
cer, but I have some say in how 
they experience cancer,
” she 
said. “By far, the most import-
ant thing is the relationships 
between me and the patients.
”
For Averbuch, who spent 
months in palliative care and 
ultimately chose to go into hos-
pice, palliative care gave him 

time to spend with his family, 
which includes his oldest son, 
Aaron, 40; daughter, Elana, 38; 
and son, Jared, 33, as well as his 
six grandkids.
“Family has always been No. 
1,
” he had said. “I have loved 
seeing my kids grow up.
” 

For information about Karmanos 
Cancer Institute’
s Supportive 
Oncology Multidisciplinary Team, call 
800-527-6266 or visit karmanos.org.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARALYN AVERBUCH

Maralyn and
Steven Averbuch

Elisheva 
Newman, M.D.

TIMOTHY J. HAUNERT

ELIZABETH KATZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

 PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICES

Karmanos Supportive Oncology 
Multidisciplinary Team
(800) 527-6266
karmanos.org

Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy 
Network
(248) 592-2687
jewishhospice.org

Ascension Health Care 
(various locations)
healthcare.ascension.org

Beaumont Health
(800) 328-8542
(appointment center)
beaumont.org

Children’
s Hospital of Michigan
(313) 745-0883 
chmpalliativecare@dmc.org 

Henry Ford Health System
(800) 436-7936
(general inquiries)
henryford.com

McLaren Health Care
Palliative Care Service-Flint
(810) 342-2546
mclaren.org

University of Michigan Health 
System (Michigan Medicine)
uofmhealth.org

East Ann Arbor Health Center:
(734) 764-6831

Rogel Cancer Center: 
(877) 907-0859

Frankel Cardiovascular: 
(888) 287-1082

Chelsea Health Center: 
(734) 475-1321

Livonia Center: 
(248) 473-4300]

C.S. Mott Children’
s Hospital: 
(734) 232-9593

St. Joseph Mercy Health 
System, Ann Arbor
Inpatient Palliative Care: 
(734) 712-6076

Patient Palliative Care: 
(734) 712-7255

Visiting Angels Living 
Assistance Services
(313) 272-8282
visitingangels.com

