It was by accident that Lucas Ramage came to find out he had a very serious disease. He was feeling well, but when he applied for life insurance, he was declined because of a high enzyme that was reflected in his blood work. That started a search with his medical teams to figure out what was going on.
“I didn’t have many physical symptoms and at the time they weren’t overly impacting. It was sort of a silent condition. After doing all the exams necessary to make a diagnosis, it was a very significant life or death health issue that needed to be attended to,” Lucas recalls.
Lucas was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), a liver disease where the bile ducts progressively decrease in size due to inflammation and scarring. He was also diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (an inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation and sores in the digestive tract).
It was determined he needed to have his colon removed, because a sick colon with ulcerative colitis would continue to have a poor impact on his liver health. Lucas was 38 at the time, and it was suggested that he would need a liver transplant by the age of 40.
“By removing my colon and giving me an ostomy, they hoped the outcome would be that my liver would be better positioned to be treated with medication. My liver health would be maintained or improved, and that’s exactly what has happened since then. I haven’t needed a liver transplant after getting my ostomy, and that was 10 years ago.”
Although Lucas had numerous medical procedures in a six-week time frame, he recalls the Interventional Radiology (IR) procedure being the least invasive. It allowed him to not have a large cut which would have required a lot more recovery.
IR uses medical imaging to perform minimally invasive procedures for diagnosis and treatment of diverse health issues. Patients undergoing IR can return to their lives quicker than if surgery were needed.
Calgary Health Foundation is funding a new Body Interventional Radiology Hub, allowing interventional radiologists to treat more outpatients.
“I would like to say a great big thank you. The doctors, nurses and care providers are outstanding. I can’t thank them enough for the way they showed up for me.”
His prognosis is very positive, and for the time being, he doesn’t require a liver transplant. He feels healthier than ever and lives a very active and dynamic life thanks to the excellent care he received from the team of healthcare professionals.
Donate to support innovate projects like the Body Interventional Radiology Hub by going to givehealth.ca
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