Rectal Cancer: Brad's Treatment Story

Brad Miller is a fellow of many interests. He is an avid outdoorsman, an aficionado of live theater and arts, and he tools around on a tractor to manage the wildlife habitat near his home in Brazil, Indiana.

And he knows a thing or two about cancer. As a senior oncology account specialist for a large pharmaceutical and biotechnology firm for more than three decades, he works closely to educate cancer health care providers and others about the best treatment options for patients.

But in December 2020, he became a colorecal cancer patient himself. Miller was experiencing intermittent rectal bleeding, so he scheduled a colonoscopy with surgeon Dipen Maun, MD, a member of Franciscan Physician Network Indiana Colon & Rectal Specialists. The surgeons in Indianapolis and Mooresville specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the colon, rectum and anus with emphasis on screening for colon cancer and the surgical management of colon and rectal cancer.

“I’ve been seeing the group at Mooresville for many years as it is close to my house, and the practice is a well-known center of excellence,” said Miller.

Brad's biopsy revealed a large cancerous lesion. He immediately began a rigorous regimen of radiation therapy and chemotherapy for several weeks followed by a surgical procedure to remove the cancerous lesion.

Following surgery and another cycle of chemotherapy, tests showed the treatments had worked and the odds were favorable that Miller would not experience a rectal cancer relapse – and that prognosis remains good.

“The Franciscan surgical and medical oncology teams enabled me to maintain my work and life routine with little disruption,” Miller said. “These treatments were coordinated with doctors at HUX Cancer Center in Terre Haute. It truly has been a collaboration that made things so much better and easier.”

Miller and his wife Amy, enjoy their life together, cooking up meals to share with their family and friends and watching their adult children continue their journey through adulthood. Speaking of journeys, his successful rectal cancer treatment has paved the way to other horizons.

“I have lots of bucket list places to visit and great books to read,” Miller said.

And there’s always that wildlife habitat depending on him and his tractor.