Conemaugh PCP, surgeon ‘saved my bacon’

It was time for Robert Grew’s annual visit to his family doctor last August.

And he was feeling great.

In fact, after the appointment he was planning to go for a walk on this crisp morning, then enjoy a quiet lunch with Cheryl, his wife of 56 years.

His PCP (primary care physician), Dr. David Glusko, ordered a colonoscopy as part of Robert’s physical at Conemaugh Health System’s Meyersdale Medical Center.

“I felt great and was just living life,” said Robert, 81, a Meyersdale resident and former owner of an excavation business.

But the colonoscopy revealed a cancerous tumor. Immediate action had to be taken.

He praises Dr. Glusko for insisting on the colonoscopy and gushes over “my lifesaver,” Conemaugh surgeon Dr. Karleigh Curfman.

“I was so impressed with the whole process,” said Robert, father of two daughters, grandfather and great-grandfather. “When I first met with her, Dr. Curfman introduced me to her entire team. And she explained the surgery process to me in detail.”

Using robotic-surgery techniques, Dr. Curfman removed the Stage-1 cancer tumor, along with nearly a foot-and-a-half of colon.

“My treatment at Conemaugh was great. The day of the operation went like clockwork. She got that bad stuff out of my belly,” he said. “Dr. Curfman is a get-er-done kind of person. She’s very caring and thorough.

“I’m blessed that they caught it at only Stage 1. There was nothing in my lymph nodes. After the surgery, I didn’t need chemotherapy; nothing,” said Robert, who needed to remain at Conemaugh Memorial Hospital only overnight.

“My advice to people is to get colonoscopies when they should. Don't ever put it off. Thanks to Dr. Glusko’s advice and Dr. Curfman’s surgery, they saved my bacon. I’m back to enjoying life, taking walks with Cheryl and doing whatever I want.”