Ovarian cancer survivor, employee: Treatment at MD Anderson is ‘the best decision I ever made’
I work in Philanthropy at MD Anderson, and I’m a cancer survivor. This means I can say I’ve been both an employee and a patient at the greatest cancer hospital in the world.
In 2018, I was diagnosed with a type of ovarian cancer called dysgerminoma. I was 32 years old, so this was a rare cancer for someone my age. I found out about my cancer diagnosis through my annual well-woman exam. My normal gynecologist was pushing down on my belly and felt something hard that shouldn't be there. I ended up having surgery to remove it. It turned out to be cancer. I immediately knew that MD Anderson was where I wanted to be treated.
Getting a cancer diagnosis at such a young age is shocking and terrifying. It's not supposed to happen; it’s odd, scary and overwhelming. But, as an MD Anderson employee, I knew firsthand how patients are treated and how care is individualized to the patient. I knew my best chance for treatment was going to be at MD Anderson.
Hands down, it was the best decision I ever made.
Today, I’ve been cancer-free for six years. Here are three perspectives I learned through my cancer treatment.
1. A deeper understanding of individualized care
As an employee, you're always told that we prioritize individualized care at MD Anderson. But it's not until you become a patient that you experience it. Making that shift connected so many dots and allowed me to understand another side of MD Anderson.
Going in for your first appointment is terrifying and overwhelming because of all the unknowns. Chemotherapy was a huge fear of mine because I'd seen chemo portrayed on television and in movies as people who get really sick and just waste away. But my care team did such an amazing job of making me not just feel welcome, but also safe. They were one of the biggest reasons why I felt like I was going to be OK. I'm a person who wants to know as much as possible, so my team provided me with a lot of information. That way, I wouldn’t have to wonder and worry. They were so caring, warm and professional; they knew exactly what we were dealing with. My cancer is a rare cancer, but at MD Anderson, it's not rare.
My care team also asked me questions about my daily life so they could tailor my treatment plan to my needs. The very first day that I met my doctor, he asked if I got motion sick. I said yes, and a couple hours after I saw him, he gave me a call and said that we were going to change my chemo regimen to a different drug that would help me avoid that. Then, before starting treatment, I met with a pharmacist to learn about the medications I'd be taking. When we discussed anti-nausea medications, she told me to let her know if my medication didn’t work so she could find me a better option. Little things like that really made me feel special and cared for.
2. The importance of ‘just another Thursday’
I tried to keep my life as normal as possible during treatment. This included both my routine and my relationships.
I couldn't go into the office when I was having chemo, so for the week after chemo, I would work from home. Then, when I went to the office, I’d try to make it just like another Thursday. At times, chemobrain made it hard to remember things, which would get very frustrating, so I started writing lots of things down. I had to learn to be gentle with myself when those times happened; it was a moment, it wasn't forever.
For my own mental sanity, I still needed to joke with my friends and have typical conversations with people. I talked to family and friends about acting normal around me. I told my parents, “It's going to be fine. Everything is normal. We can talk about it. Ask me questions, but let's not tiptoe around anything."
My care team also provided me with a sense of normalcy in a time when nothing felt normal. Before my chemo appointments, we would chat about our personal lives and upcoming trips. These casual conversations made me feel comfortable messaging them with all my treatment questions. I never felt like I was bothering them; instead, it really felt like they loved talking and chatting and hanging out.
I also meditated, practiced yoga and journaled during treatment. One of my neighbors would drop by to do art projects during lunchtime when I was working from home. That connection was a little pick-me-up that helped as I tried to keep everything as normal as possible.
3. What it means to be a cancer survivor
Even though I am a cancer survivor, I’m still very connected to MD Anderson. My post-cancer care and support has been great. My care team is wonderful and optimistic. If I'm ever feeling like I need extra support, I can talk to our Social Work team or reach out to support groups.
Today, my experience as a patient gives me a unique perspective in my role on the Philanthropy team. Donations are pivotal. Fundraising is a huge reason why MD Anderson is so successful and can invest so much in research, clinical trials, support programs like our Adolescent and Young Adult Program and Children’s Cancer Hospital, and other resources for patients and their networks. Cancer doesn't just affect the patient, it affects everyone in that patient's life. MD Anderson provides patients and their families and friends with so many resources to help them get through a really difficult time.
My role as a survivor is a huge milestone and accomplishment. It’s also a reminder of my responsibility to encourage other people to get preventative exams. If my cancer diagnosis can help somebody else down the road, then it was all worth it.
Request an appointment at MD Anderson online or call 1-877-632-6789.
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