Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Theresa Marcus, left center front row, celebrates being cancer-free with some of the people involved in her care at the Rose Cancer Center on the campus of Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak. Front row, left to right: Cynthia Vanderkolk, RN, colorectal nurse navigator; Marcus; LeAnn Blankenship, M.D., hematology-oncology fellow; and Susanna Gaikazian, M.D., hematologist-oncologist. Middle row, left to right: Michael Stender, M.D., hematologist-oncologist; Shelli Bergeron, RN, colorectal nurse site coordinator; Adewale Fawole, M.D., hematology-oncology fellow; and Ishmael Jaiyesimi, D.O., hematologist-oncologist. Back row, left to right: Judy Whitfield, Cancer Care Associates, PC; Carol Brzozowski, Graduate Medical Education; and Alexander Glick, M.D., hematology-oncology fellow.
Diseases run in families: heart conditions, autoimmune diseases and cancer. That last one had the power to direct Theresa Marcus, 38, of Sterling Heights, Michigan, into a career choice since she’d lost both grandmothers and other family members to it far too early. Employed by Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak for 16 years, she serves in a dual role as administrative assistant to the chair of hematology-oncology and as coordinator of the department’s fellowship program.
In 2013, Theresa was diagnosed with colon cancer, the family affliction. Like most people hearing a cancer diagnosis for the first time, she desperately wanted to retreat from what felt like a nightmare. She feared what the coming months would bring and how it would affect not only her, but also her children Ben, 8, and Hannah, 7, and husband David.
Her journey brought surgery to remove the colon cancer and six months of chemotherapy along with pain, fear and sickness. But, it also deepened Theresa’s personal bonds with her boss Ishmael Jaiyesimi, D.O.; the seven hematology-oncology fellows in her program; and the faculty member who became her oncologist.
“Dr. Susanna Gaikazian, my wonderful oncologist, drew the short straw when the faculty met to decide who’d be in charge of my care. Having to give bad news to a friend can be extremely stressful for physicians,” Theresa said. “Thankfully, she sees it differently and treats me like family. Dr. Gaikazian spent a lot of time with my parents to calm their fears and reassure them.”
The hematology-oncology fellows supported Theresa in ways great and small: offering encouragement, sharing research knowledge, introducing her to cancer connections around the country and answering her questions. They even offered Bible scriptures, which she found especially meaningful. They would check on her when she was at her desk to make sure she hadn’t passed out from fatigue during her chemotherapy treatment. They gave her family a gift card to assist with meals. The chief fellows and clinical navigator assisted with Theresa’s job duties when she was absent. They never uttered a word of complaint.
No matter how big or small our roles may be along the journey, we give hope to our patients.
Theresa Marcus
Dr. Jaiyesimi visited Theresa in her exam room and used the floor as a seat when none was available. He calmed her husband’s fears and encouraged David to call his cell anytime. He reminded them that her treatment team travels the cancer path every day and are experts able to answer all their questions.
And others lifted Theresa’s spirits with their encouraging words, jokes and stories, including the Graduate Medical Education team led by Jeffrey M. Devries, M.D. He said, “Theresa’s courage in the face of adversity speaks to how her Beaumont family pulled together to help her. She is a true role model of professionalism, dedication, commitment and bravery.”
Shortly after her final chemotherapy treatment, Theresa walked into her program’s graduation dinner in June 2014. The entire room of fellows, faculty and staff stopped to applaud and cheer for her because it was a shared and very sweet victory.
At her one-month post-treatment scan, tumors reappeared in the same location. Another surgery. Then, a number of medical experts reviewed and debated the treatment planning approach on whether to give her more chemotherapy. Her team decided against it and chose close monitoring instead. Theresa is approaching two years cancer-free, so the treatment team chose well.
She credits her cancer team’s relentless support, as well as that of her family, church, friends and co-workers for getting her through this journey. The only way she felt she could ever repay them was to do a great job working for Beaumont, Royal Oak’s hematology-oncology department with a group of individuals she admires and has grown to love.
“I will never forget what they did to help me on my cancer journey,” said Theresa. “I returned to my job with a greater passion, knowing these oncologists and fellows back up their talk with action. With compassion and knowledge, they proved it through the care I received. They walked me through the gloomiest season of my life and renewed my passion for the big picture of why we do what we do every day in Hematology-Oncology. We change lives. No matter how big or small our roles may be along the journey, we give hope to our patients.”