Fayette man grateful for WVU Cancer Institute’s innovative treatments
Becomes first in US to undergo new microwave procedure to treat tumor
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – More than a decade after undergoing surgery for kidney cancer, Rick Miller believed that chapter of his life was behind him. That was until he received his second cancer diagnosis in 2024.
Rick Miller was the first person in the United States to receive a cutting-edge procedure using endoscopic-guided microwave ablation to treat a pancreatic lesion.
Miller had been suffering from persistent urinary tract infections and severe back pain. Tests revealed something unexpected: the cancer had returned – this time as metastatic renal cell carcinoma in his pancreas.
With a team of WVU Medicine and WVU Cancer Institute experts behind him and a new, innovative procedure available, Miller became the first person in the United States to receive a cutting-edge endoscopic ultrasound-guided microwave ablation (EUS-MWA) to treat the lesion – a procedure he was able to have close to his family and home in Connellsville.
Miller began treatment under the care of Joanna Kolodney, M.D., medical oncologist, receiving immunotherapy and targeted therapy while being closely monitored by his multidisciplinary care team at the WVU Cancer Institute. When he developed a treatment-related rash, his physicians acted quickly to manage the side effects, so he could continue therapy safely.
“They took care of me every step of the way,” he said.
After his initial therapy, Miller met Brian Boone, M.D., chief of Surgical Oncology, to discuss next steps.
One option was a major operation with a lengthy recovery. Boone also discussed another possibility – an innovative, minimally invasive procedure that had never been performed in the United States. Rather than recommending the more invasive surgery, Boone believed Miller was an ideal candidate for the new approach.
“When I asked Dr. Boone what he would choose, he actually recommended the new procedure,” Miller said. “That gave me confidence because he explained everything so thoroughly. He made sure I understood all my options.”
Shailendra Singh, M.D., director of Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy at the WVU Cancer Institute, met with Miller and his family to explain the new EUS-MWA procedure.
Unlike traditional surgery, the minimally invasive procedure uses endoscopic ultrasound to precisely locate the tumor and deliver microwave energy that destroys cancer cells without surgical incisions. Patients typically return home the same day.
At the time, Miller knew the treatment could be groundbreaking, but instead of focusing on being first, he focused on something else.
“I wasn’t scared because it was new,” he said. “I was grateful that this option existed and that it happened in my lifetime. If my experience can help someone else someday, that’s wonderful.”
The procedure, which lasted only an hour, went better than he imagined. With few side effects, he returned home later that day.
Follow-up treatments and imaging continue to bring encouraging news. Nearly a year after the procedure, Miller has had three PET scans showing no evidence of active disease.
“The use of EUS-MWA, alongside traditional radio frequency ablation, allowed us to more precisely treat Rick’s cancer, while enhancing efficiency and safety — all through a single endoscopic approach,” Singh said. “This procedure is another example of how we can offer innovative cancer treatment with better outcomes for patients.”
Miller credits Singh, Boone, Kolodney, Heidi LaRue, M.S.N., A.P.R.N., and the team at the Cancer Institute for making one of the hardest experiences of his life easier.
“Everyone here is so friendly, positive, and encouraging,” he said. “They make you feel comfortable, and that makes all the difference.”
Today, Miller is back to enjoying the things that matter most to him – spending time with family, fishing with his grandson, taking his grandchildren boating, and making memories with the people he loves. He hopes sharing his story will encourage others who are facing a cancer diagnosis.
“I want people to know not to give up hope,” he said. “There are new treatments. There are incredible doctors. There are reasons to keep believing.”
For more information on the WVU Cancer Institute, visit WVUMedicine.org/Cancer.