Management practices help health care executive deal with cancer
By Bill Byron
Conquest magazine
PHOENIX (Oct. 29, 2009) -- That morning in mid-July of 2008 was of no particular significance to Peter Fine. He got up, got ready for work and made it into his office at Banner Health, headquartered in Phoenix, at his customary time. Of course, there was that little matter of a small lump that he felt near his throat when he was shaving. It nagged at him until later that day when he talked to his doctor about it.
Fine’s doctor told him that “just to be sure,” he should have a CT scan. The scan revealed diseased tissue; two biopsies followed. Within a week the diagnosis came back — cancer. Specifically, it was a squamous cell carcinoma primarily located at the base of his tongue. Fortunately, it was in the early stages.
“People who know me know that I am very decisive, which is why I didn’t wait to talk to my doctor,” he says. “What I felt was abnormal. I wanted it checked out immediately, and I’m glad that I did.”
Fine contacted M. D. Anderson. Coincidentally, the health system for which he serves as president and chief executive officer, Banner Health, was deep into nearly 15 months of discussions with M. D. Anderson about joining together to create a cancer center in the Phoenix area.
“I had a pretty good understanding about the capabilities at M. D. Anderson, but, until I started my treatment, I had no idea how amazing this institution really was,” Fine states. “I’m extremely proud and pleased, as well, that M. D. Anderson chose to join with Banner Health to build the M. D. Anderson Banner Cancer Center in the Phoenix area.”
