By Gretchen Keiser

Archbishop James P. Lyke, OFM, is scheduled to begin immunotherapy May 4 in an effort to strengthen his body’s fight against cancer.

Using an agent called Interferon, his team of doctors hopes to enhance the disease-fighting system in his body to combat a recurrence of cancer found April 27 in the lining of the archbishop’s right lung.

The cancer has metastasized from his right kidney, which was removed in January 1991 following the discovery of a tumor. The tumor was later determined to be malignant.

Dr. Carlos Franco, an oncologist at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta, said at a press conference at the hospital April 27 that the prognosis for the archbishop was “guarded” and “uncertain.”

Because of the location of the cancer cells in the lining of the lung, surgery is not possible, Dr. Franco said. He also said that radiation and chemotherapy were not appropriate.

The use of Interferon brings improvement for 40 to 50 percent of patients with this type of cancer, he said. Dr. Franco said he had seen a few cases of total improvement, but these were the exception.

Doctors at the press conference said Archbishop Lyke’s overall physical condition is excellent and that his attitude makes him an ideal patient to work with, particularly for immunotherapy.

The discovery of a recurrence of cancer came without warning for the archbishop and the people of the archdiocese. Working a normal hectic schedule, the archbishop contacted his internist, Dr. James Capo, April 23 and complained that he was experiencing shortness of breath over a period of a week or more. After seeing the archbishop April 24, Dr. Capo detected fluid in his right lung, which had partially collapsed, and asked him to check into the hospital that afternoon.

Archbishop Lyke presided over a meeting of the Clergy Personnel Board at the residence and then went to the hospital, where fluid was drained from his lung and a series of tests, including a biopsy of the lining of the lung, was done.

The results of the biopsy, which identified renal cancer cells, or kidney cancer, in the lining of the lung, were received April 27.

Dr. Capo said the fluid build-up in the lung is a result of the inflammation of the lining of the lung caused by the cancer cells. It is not lung cancer, he said.

The immunotherapy is to be conducted on the archbishop as an outpatient if he responds well, Dr. Franco said. The oncologist plans to schedule Interferon treatments by injection over a period of five days every two weeks. The initial plan is to continue the Interferon schedule for two to three months, Dr. Franco said, while monitoring Lyke’s response. A pulmonologist is also a part of the treatment team to continue to monitor his lungs for fluid.

The side effect associated with Interferon, which may or may not affect the archbishop, is a flu-like syndrome, with fever, chills and muscle aches, Dr. Franco said.

Archbishop Lyke celebrated Mass at the hospital chapel while a patient, visited other patients and began to work on revising his daily schedule.

Cheerful and gracious when visited in his hospital room April 27, Archbishop Lyke said he appreciated the prayers of the people of the archdiocese. He pointed to two bulging briefcases and said he was carrying on business from the hospital. He was release April 29.

“It is business as usual” from an administrative point of view, said Father Edward Dillon, vicar general.

A trip to Rome, Italy, scheduled for the first week of May has been cancelled and will permit Archbishop Lyke some empty calendar days to begin the treatment program, Father Dillon said.

Other than that, “we’re working to lighten his calendar, but not to clear it.”

“The crucial thing right now,” Father Dillon said, “is how the archbishop will respond to the Interferon treatment.”

“He’s quite positive that he’s going to deal with this. The prayers of the people are important to him. I think it will have a very positive effect on him knowing that the people are praying for him.”