MCC is short for Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Doesn't sound as serious either when you don't have to say cancer. On March 12, Rilla and I went to UAB to see Dr. Cohen for blood tests, chest xrays and discuss options for treatment of the Merkel Cell. We took a copy of the protocol from the google group site for MCC survivors. He didn't look at it long but he did look, then researched online and found out how serious it was. He then made some phone calls and found out I need to go directly to the oncologist, Dr. Urist. an app was set up for 3/19. just didn't know if i could wait that long. when i called to find out more or if i could see him early, no luck. the 3/19 app would just be consultation. meantime we went home and kept researching and i kept reading the posts on the group about Dr. Nghiem. On my drive to atl on 3/13 i took the leap and called and talked to a wonderful young man named Dawson. he took all my history, then asked my goal to which i responded "to get this cancer off and out of my body as soon as possible". he said he would have Dr. Iyer or Dr. Nghiem. Dr. Iyer called within the hour...so wonderful to know there were doctors who were taking this seriously. she did say app was avail on 3/16, if i was interested. IN SEATTLE. yes, no second thoughts, i wanted to do this but also did not want to over react. i just decided to call it vigilance!! also to save my life! all weekend i enjoyed the girls at the ballet recital. while napping in the afternoon on 3/14. Dr. Nghiem called to be sure all my questions had been answered. That did it..he called on a Saturday!!! He wanted to help me save my life. I then talked to my daughter Rilla and told her I had decided to go to Seattle . That was on Sunday that I told her. She said she would go with me. On early monday, i called to take the appointment and was in Dr. Nghiem on 3/17! he spent at least two hours answering all our questions (Michael was on the phone), a very positive app about early detection and action being necessary. he arranged app for me to see Dr. Peter Neligan, the surgeon on 3/18. It was happening! I was going to get this cancer cut out! I was elated. on the 18th all the pre op tests were done. on 3/19 the mapping of the lymph nodes was tried but no luck there. they would just look for the lymph nodes during the surgery. at 6;45 pm. i went to surgery. yes, i was an add on appt but it was worth the wait. We got back to the hotel at midnight. Courtyard Marriott. Rilla was just an angel and it was so wonderful having her there.
on 3/20, rilla just had to get back with her family and i stayed to recoup from the surgery until Sunday. i flew back to atl on sunday 3/22, rested more, then drove back to bham on 3/24. felt soooooo relieved. remember 3/19 was to be the consult.with Dr. Urist and on 3/19 i was having the surgery. so wonderful,, such a blesssing. i then had to wait until 4/1 to see dr. urist. then the rad onc on 4/7. xrt started 4/13.
it's bedtime now but ill complete and continue the story soon!!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
The Big "C" has entered my life forever!
Wow! you just never know what you will face in life...you can be traveling along everything hunkadory ..notice a little ugly fatty growth on your forearm. go have it removed and biopsies. Then you get THE CALL that changes your life forever! No this couldn't be a wished for fatty cyst or even a little basal cell, or you could even hope for a melanoma instead of the dreaded merkel cell!
I noticed the little intruder early February, a few days later made and appointment with Dr. Gary Monheit, a renown dermatologist in the Birmingham area. Even talked to that ugly little thing and told it it was coming off my arm, just not right to let you stay there. So on 2/25 /09 at 3 p.m. I visited Dr. Monheit and he sliced that baby off. I remember him saying " I've never seen any thing that looks like this" . I should have known a practicing 33 year dermatologist should have seen something like this. Maybe a little forewarning of the upcoming phone call.
Mother, Willie, had a really bad asthmatic bronchitis condition and had to be admitted to ECM on 2/26/09. I had been traveling up to NA to visit with her and do a few things for her and just happen to be visiting with her on the morning of 3/11/09.
It was about 9 a.m. The call went something like this. " ms. Berry, this is Donna with Dr. Monheit's office. Your test came back positive for cancer and we have scheduled surgery for you on 3/19/09 at 3" I was just speechless...did she say the test came back no cancer? So I said So why do I need surgery. She then repeated " The test is positive for Merkel Cell Carcinoma a rare aggressive cancer and Dr. Monheit will be using a Mohs procedure, I really thought she said mole procedure and wondered what that meant. I then said you are calling to tell me I have a rare cancer ? aggressive? let me call you back. I was already googling while she was on the phone and realized this is REALLY rare and really deadly and I better get this right!
I tried to be cool around Mother, after all, she was weak and this was not good news! I pardoned myself and eventually got Rilla and Michael on the phone at the same time to give them the news. They both did their research and we decided no mistakes or chances can be made.
I then called Keith Berry, my cousin, who knows UAB well and told him what was going on and he did the research too and realized the seriousness of this cancer. He spent the entire day and I ended up with appointment with Dr. Cohen a good internist, for the next a.m. 3/12/ Rilla drove over from Atlanta to go with me. I had "floated " back to birmingham and still in shock I am sure. ... and wondering how such a small little growth can cause this much havoc! Michael drove over to give big hugs and was concerned too. Family, just don't know what people do without them. So this was the first day. I'm having to take this slow so I will post what happenned on 3/12 later. Love, Wanda
I noticed the little intruder early February, a few days later made and appointment with Dr. Gary Monheit, a renown dermatologist in the Birmingham area. Even talked to that ugly little thing and told it it was coming off my arm, just not right to let you stay there. So on 2/25 /09 at 3 p.m. I visited Dr. Monheit and he sliced that baby off. I remember him saying " I've never seen any thing that looks like this" . I should have known a practicing 33 year dermatologist should have seen something like this. Maybe a little forewarning of the upcoming phone call.
Mother, Willie, had a really bad asthmatic bronchitis condition and had to be admitted to ECM on 2/26/09. I had been traveling up to NA to visit with her and do a few things for her and just happen to be visiting with her on the morning of 3/11/09.
It was about 9 a.m. The call went something like this. " ms. Berry, this is Donna with Dr. Monheit's office. Your test came back positive for cancer and we have scheduled surgery for you on 3/19/09 at 3" I was just speechless...did she say the test came back no cancer? So I said So why do I need surgery. She then repeated " The test is positive for Merkel Cell Carcinoma a rare aggressive cancer and Dr. Monheit will be using a Mohs procedure, I really thought she said mole procedure and wondered what that meant. I then said you are calling to tell me I have a rare cancer ? aggressive? let me call you back. I was already googling while she was on the phone and realized this is REALLY rare and really deadly and I better get this right!
I tried to be cool around Mother, after all, she was weak and this was not good news! I pardoned myself and eventually got Rilla and Michael on the phone at the same time to give them the news. They both did their research and we decided no mistakes or chances can be made.
I then called Keith Berry, my cousin, who knows UAB well and told him what was going on and he did the research too and realized the seriousness of this cancer. He spent the entire day and I ended up with appointment with Dr. Cohen a good internist, for the next a.m. 3/12/ Rilla drove over from Atlanta to go with me. I had "floated " back to birmingham and still in shock I am sure. ... and wondering how such a small little growth can cause this much havoc! Michael drove over to give big hugs and was concerned too. Family, just don't know what people do without them. So this was the first day. I'm having to take this slow so I will post what happenned on 3/12 later. Love, Wanda
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
