Dr. Sajeel Chowdhary
It is nothing short of a miracle that Constantinos “Gus” Kontodaskalakis is alive today.
In 2021, the retired Pratt & Whitney engineer from North Palm Beach was diagnosed with a glioblastoma. The average survival rate for an individual with this deadly brain cancer is eight months. Having survived nearly three years, Gus credits the treatment he’s received from Tampa General Hospital (TGH) Cancer Institute neuro-oncologist Dr. Sajeel Chowdhary with prolonging his life.
“I truly believe if it wasn’t for Dr. Chowdhary, I wouldn’t be here today,” said Gus.
A nationally recognized clinical investigator, Dr. Chowdhary was recently appointed the medical director of neuro-oncology at the TGH Cancer Institute. As an expert in his field with an impressive academic track record, Dr. Chowdhary has played a vital role in guiding more than 30 clinical trials focused on glioblastoma and other brain cancers. He also serves as a professor in the Department of Neurology and the Division of Neuro-oncology at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine at the University of South Florida. Additionally, Dr. Chowdhary has supervised residents and mentored the next generation of medical professionals in neuro-oncology.
Dr. Chowdhary earned his medical degree and Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery from King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan, and his Bachelor of Science from the University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. He completed his internship at Thomas Jefferson University, Frankford Hospital, Philadelphia, and his residency in neurology at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio and Weston, Florida. At the University of Calgary, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Dr. Chowdhary did a fellowship in neuro-oncology.
Along with his clinical expertise, Dr. Chowdhary is committed to giving his patients compassionate and comprehensive care. Gus experienced this firsthand. Having started chemo and radiation treatment with Dr. Chowdhary at another hospital in Palm Beach County, Gus followed the neuro-oncologist to the TGH Cancer Institute when he moved to Tampa.
“Dr. Chowdhary is accessible whenever we need him,” said Gus. “He takes our calls after hours and we’re able to text him with any questions or concerns 24/7.”
Telemedicine appointments coupled with TGH’s growing framework of services on Florida’s East Coast enable Dr. Chowdhary to continue monitoring Gus’ progress from his Tampa office. Dr. Chowdhary collaborates with Palm Beach County medical oncologist Dr. Sujal Shah at the TGH Cancer Institute Cancer Center of South Florida to implement a long-range treatment approach using the drug Avastin. This strategy has helped Gus survive his brain cancer for nearly three years.
“Normally, Avastin therapy is discontinued after a year,” said Dr. Chowdhary. “Because TGH fosters an atmosphere of collaboration and innovation, we’ve been able to keep Gus on the drug long term. It is helping prolong his life.”
According to the National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS), the average length of survival for glioblastoma patients is eight months. “Less than 10 percent of glioblastoma patients survive as long as Gus has,” noted Dr. Chowdhary.
Avastin starves a tumor of the blood it needs to survive. The NBTS states that around 12,000 glioblastoma cases are diagnosed each year in the United States. Dr. Chowdhary notes that it is the same cancer that claimed the lives of President Joe Biden’s son Beau and Senator Edward Kennedy. Since glioblastoma recurrence is common, Dr. Chowdhary said that as an academic health system that normally handles complex patient care, TGH has access to other cutting-edge treatments that can benefit Gus if his cancer returns.
With his cancer in remission, Gus is grateful for the care he’s received. Although his treatment can be taxing, he is making the most of each day. He likes to stay active, taking regular walks and tending to his flower garden.
“We take every day as a blessing,” said Gus’ wife, Gorgonia. “I tell my husband that I’m glad he’s here.”
Since 2020, TGH has been creating a framework of state-of-the-art services for patients in Palm Beach and Martin counties, with the expertise and innovation of a preeminent academic health system. For more information, visit TGH.org/ThePalmBeaches.
