A doctor's careful, patience-first approach helped save a cancer patient's stomach and her life, a good-news story for patients navigating serious illness.

• Caroline Huff was diagnosed with a rare stomach tumor after a second cancer scare, right as she lost her previous oncologist.
• When the tumor began bleeding and a quick surgery seemed likely, Dr. Shane Marita chose to wait for more test results instead of rushing into the operating room.
• That decision led to a targeted drug treatment, based on genetic testing, that shrank the tumor and avoided the need to remove her entire stomach.
• Huff credited Marita with treating her like a person, not just a case, during a confusing and frightening diagnosis.

Outlook: Marita's patient, who nominated him, says his careful, individualized approach continues to guide her recovery and stands as a model for cancer care.