Editor's Note
Dr. Ivan Young, D. is committed to helping people seek innovation and positive change in their lives. Dr. Young has twice received the President's Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding contributions as an inspiring thought leader and life coach.
The following is his account of his oral cancer treatment experience.
The following is from the MD Anderson Cancer Center, which has ranked first in the field of cancer treatment in the United States for many years, and is translated and edited by the U.S.-China Jia and the cancer prevention and treatment science team.
As a Certified Master Coach of the International Coaching Foundation, a National Health Certified Coach and a Behavioral Sciences Specialist, I am usually consulted by others when they encounter various problems. So, a lot of people think I'm one of the last people on earth to have a crisis of faith.
Not really.
Diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma in July 2021, I was taken aback and then became very depressed. Some people, even if they smoke a lot, still live a good life; and I always have a conscious, healthy life, insist on exercising every day, eating reasonably, not smoking, not drinking, why am I still diagnosed with stage IV oral cancer?
The diagnosis of oral cancer shook my convictions
Although the cancer is quite advanced, it can still be treated, and I am lucky from this point of view. Also, my insurance covers the treatments I need to do. I was even more fortunate to be able to find the best doctor in the world's best cancer hospital to treat my illness.
But I still have self-doubt, depression, fear, and even anger, sometimes holding back tears. I've also wondered, "Where are the usual unshakable beliefs, the principles that I strive to follow, when I really need them?" ”
Ultimately, it was MD Anderson's medical team that helped me rebuild my convictions, particularly Dr. Steven Frank, Dr. Patrick Garvey, Language Therapist Holly McMillan, and Physician Assistant Faiyzan Dhanani.
They were not just doctors, but my partners, giving me much-needed help and compassion.
Outspokenness and empathy make the way forward easier
The first person who gave me hope was plastic surgeon Dr. Patrick Garvey. He said I didn't do anything wrong and it wasn't my fault to be sick "sometimes, cancer just happens.") He and his assistant Faiyzan replied to my messages early in the morning more than once, relieving my anxiety.
My radiotherapy doctor also gave me very good feedback. The first good news I heard after my diagnosis was what he told me. When determining the tumor range to accurately stage the tumor, he said, "Look, it's treatable, and you're not going to die." "He also worked hard to get me proton therapy.
Finally, when my head and neck surgeon, Dr. Ann Gillenwater, met me, she was gentle and determined. When I asked her if she needed to rebuild my jaw with the non-weight-bearing bone (fibula) in my leg, she said something like, "You've given a lot of public speeches on state television, so you definitely don't want to be disfigured with this disease." However, the lesion is located just behind the mouth grinding, and if you don't rebuild the mandible, it will not only affect your appearance, but also change the way you eat and talk. Therefore, we had to do a reconstruction of the mandible. ”
Her bluntness made me realize that I really had no choice. On September 15, 2021, I had 12 and a half hours of surgery and the doctors did so well to remove the tumor that I didn't even need follow-up chemotherapy.
Foresee hope and regain confidence
Yes, I have cancer, but it can be treated.
In 3 hours, I underwent 7 different surgeries. The surgery removed a bone from my leg and placed it on my face.
Three months after the surgery, I received my last proton therapy on December 21. Since then, I have officially escaped cancer and sounded the gong of victory in the hospital as my Christmas present this year.
At the moment I still need to deal with pain, inflammation, oral mucositis, fatigue and some other treatment side effects, but I am already very grateful.
My surgical participants were not only surgeons, but also scientists, especially the weekly follow-up visits of Holly McMillan and Dr. Richard Cardoso during the last period of time gave me great encouragement and support. They are all very good, and any one of them can be the chief doctor of any hospital in the United States.
My commitment to medical excellence gives me peace of mind
The real magic of MD Anderson is that no matter how effective the treatment is, I can truly feel cared for by a professional medical team. The reason why this team is always close to patients stems from their dedication to medical excellence.
At MD Anderson, whether it's a dental oncologist, a surgeon or a physician assistant and nurse, everyone I've dealt with is a five-star professional, even the nurses who draw blood are brilliant.
Cancer is indeed unfair, but MD Anderson brings together the best talent to tailor a treatment plan that belongs to the individual for the patient. Where else can you find such a medical team?
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MD Anderson Cancer Center official website