There’s no real history of cancer in my family. So, when I was diagnosed with a stage II soft tissue cancer called angiosarcoma in June 2024, I was in complete disbelief. This disease is so rare that only 200 to 300 patients are diagnosed with it in the U.S. each year.  

Anyone who gets that kind of news knows it takes a few minutes to fully digest. Once I did, though, I was devastated. As a 30-year-old newlywed, I felt like my life was just getting started. I was working at a job that I loved, playing tennis with my friends and settling happily into married life. Then it all came to a screeching halt. 

I didn’t even know how to react at first. I phoned a friend who’d had cancer before, and asked, “What do I do?”  

The first thing he told me was, “Do not look up your cancer online. You are not your statistics.”  

The second thing he said was, “Go straight to the specialists.” 

That’s how I ended up at MD Anderson.  

Why I chose MD Anderson

My doctors in Baton Rouge had never seen anyone with angiosarcoma before. That’s how rare this disease is. The fact that it was a primary cancer made my situation even more unusual. Normally, angiosarcoma develops as a secondary cancer due to prior radiation therapy.  

I had always heard that MD Anderson was the best place in the world to go for cancer treatment. It was only a four-hour drive away. And, its doctors saw dozens of cases just like mine every year.  

I got on the phone and made an appointment. Two weeks later, I was at MD Anderson. And everything I have experienced since then has only made that decision seem wiser. 

My angiosarcoma treatment

The sarcoma tumor was buried deep in my left breast, so I met first with breast surgical oncologist Dr. Kelly Hunt and sarcoma specialist Dr. Vinod Ravi. They told me they had treated this exact disease numerous times before with great success. They even had a plan in mind already. 

First, they recommended four cycles of chemotherapy, using a combination of doxorubicin and ifosfamide. Then, I’d have a complete mastectomy and 30 days of radiation therapy under Dr. Ashleigh Guadagnolo. After that, I’d have 12 rounds of another chemotherapy drug called paclitaxel, and possibly some form of immunotherapy. 

Why I love MD Anderson

I love everything about MD Anderson. Everyone from the doctors to the valet parking attendants has been 100% supportive. Even the patients I overhear at the Rotary House give me inadvertent encouragement. They say things like, “Yeah, I’ve been in remission now for 15 years after a stage IV ‘this’ diagnosis,” or “I’m here for my annual checkup after a stage III ‘that’ diagnosis 12 years ago.”  

But what I love most is that Dr. Ravi has an answer to every question, extensive experience in this exact disease, and a plan for every possible contingency. He is also totally unflappable. Nothing seems to faze him. 

From Day 1, Dr. Ravi has made my rare cancer diagnosis seem like it wasn’t all that unusual, at least not to him. He knew exactly what to do about angiosarcoma. And, he was confident he could treat it. I found that very comforting. 

Looking ahead with optimism

I started chemotherapy in early July 2024. I had the mastectomy last November and completed radiation therapy in January. I’m still finishing up the last few rounds of paclitaxel. But if all goes well, I should be done with my treatments soon.  

Once I’m released, my husband and I plan to take the Cabo vacation we had to postpone last year due to my cancer diagnosis. We are both so excited! 

Any cancer patient can tell you that learning you have this disease is terrifying. But MD Anderson has given me so much hope. And, Dr. Ravi is considered THE top expert in angiosarcoma. So, I know MD Anderson is the right place to be. 

I realize that my journey isn’t over quite yet. But I am so optimistic about my future now, thanks to MD Anderson. They really know what they’re doing. And, that makes all the difference. 

Request an appointment at MD Anderson online or call 1-877-632-6789.