Patient Stories

The day after Father’s Day isn’t supposed to be a memorable day. It's just another June day.

But for Mark Fay, it was “Day 1” in an unexpected journey that began in 2023.

Mark’s Story

“I felt a lump in my neck. Never felt that before. And it had popped up quickly because I shaved two to three days a week,” Mark said.

The 56-year-old Cincinnati man immediately saw his primary care physician who ordered a scan and referred him to an ENT physician.

“He's like, ‘Well, I have good news and bad news,’” Mark remembered of that ENT visit. “He said, ‘The bad news is, is I'm 99% sure this is cancer. The good news is, it's, pretty treatable, even curable form of cancer. And he began to describe this virus-associated cancer that's actually HPV, related cancer.”

Cancer? Mark couldn’t believe it.

“I'm a healthy guy. I've never smoked. I stay active. I'm an outdoor person,” Mark said. “I’m a prepare for the worst and hope for the best kind of a person. And so, it was bad news. You never want to hear a cancer diagnosis.”

As he and his family were preparing for his son’s wedding, Mark was blindsided with a tonsil cancer diagnosis.

Mark’s physicians recommended that he see another physician for the best personalized care in town: Dustin Silverman, MD, Assistant Professor and head and neck surgical Otolaryngologist (ENT) at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center. 

“There's actually been a decrease in these smoking-related types of cancers within the United States,” Dr. Silverman explained. “But what we've actually seen is a rise of HPV-positive or human papillomavirus-positive related cancers involving the throat, the back of the tongue, and the tonsil. HPV, or human papillomavirus, is the same virus that causes cervical cancer and with the rise of HPV among men, we're seeing a marked increase in patients with cancer, just like Mark.”

Understanding HPV-Related Neck Cancer

“There's actually been a decrease in these smoking-related types of head and neck cancers within the United States,” Dr. Silverman explained. “But what we've actually seen is a rise of HPV-positive or human papillomavirus-positive cancers involving the throat, the back of the tongue, and the tonsils, collectively known as oropharyngeal cancers. HPV is the same virus that causes cervical cancer, and with the rise of HPV among men, we're seeing a marked increase in patients with neck cancer, just like Mark.”

The Da Vinci Difference

Dr. Silverman is uniquely trained in a specific kind of robotic surgery called Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS), performed with the Da Vinci Surgical System. This minimally invasive surgery allows for precise removal of throat tumors without the need for large external incisions, common in traditional neck surgery.

“One of the key benefits of this robotic surgery is to decrease morbidity,” Dr. Silverman said. “Patients experience fewer difficulties with swallowing both in the short term and long term compared to those who receive radiation. We often tell patients that usually within the first three months after surgery, their swallowing function is very close to, if not completely, back to baseline.”

Dr. Silverman said. “Compared to other patients who might have the long-term effects from radiation, chemotherapy or both of those modalities combined.”

 “The other thing that surgery allows us to do is to more accurately stage these patients with cancer, Dr. Silverman continued. “To be able to more accurately inform patients to their prognosis, how advanced their cancer is, and if there's any other adverse or maybe concerning tumor features that may inform the need specifically for radiation, chemotherapy or both radiation and chemotherapy or, even more importantly, allow us to treat these patients with only one modality, specifically surgery alone.”

In July, UC Health became the first in the Greater Cincinnati area to welcome the newest upgrades to the Da Vinci to our campuses with the Da Vinci 5. These upgrades help give surgeons back their sense of touch during procedures, allowing them to perform more effective surgeries with shorter patient recovery times. 

Hometown Success 

Mark recalled a professional and reassuring tone with Dr. Silverman during their first appointments.

“My first few appointments with Dr Silverman were, were really good. He took time with me. He assured me that this was very treatable. The whole team, the whole treatment team, has been exceptional.”

“It was very comforting to know that I'm 15 minutes away from all my appointments. The convenience of being treated locally for me and my wife, my biggest support, along with my kids was huge. Likewise being able to treat at UC kept me in close proximity with close friends and my support community all right here in Cincinnati,” Mark said of getting treated in his hometown at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center.

Even as Mark’s cancer was spreading, Dr. Silverman assured Mark he would be a good candidate for transoral robotic surgery. In September 2023, Dr. Silverman successfully performed surgery on Mark.  “Surgery couldn't have gone better,” Dr. Silverman said. Thanks to the Da Vinci Surgical System, Mark went home about three days following the surgery.

Dr. Silverman now considers Mark to be cancer-free.

“It's fantastic to deliver great news to Mark to tell him that he's cancer-free,” Dr. Silverman reflected. “Honestly, that's what makes this entire job worth it. Cancer care is difficult for not only patients but also their families. It gives us the encouragement and the patients their encouragement and power to keep going.”

“To other men out there and their 40s, 50s,60s, if get a head-and-neck diagnosis and you’re a candidate for surgery, I highly recommend it,” Mark expressed. “It's been a reflective and stressful but good journey that has improved my outlook on life, my appreciation for the simple things, foster deeper gratitude and stronger faith.”

Mark continues to see Dr. Silverman and others as needed for follow-up appointments. Since his surgery, Mark saw his son get married on New Year’s Eve. In August 2024, Mark biked 100 miles in one day with his son to raise money for cancer research.

“It's been a hard but really meaningful journey. I've learned some things about myself. I think the team here at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, especially the Head and Neck Cancer team, are pretty incredible people,” Mark reflected. “This care right here is second to none.”

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Dustin Silverman, call the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center at 513-584-3274.