At ONCO, we impact cancer programs by providing data and staffing solutions to ease the burden of data collection. This directly impacts cancer care by ensuring cancer is reported accurately and increasing data utilization for strategic planning, community outreach, and quality improvement.
For National Cancer Survivors Month, a group of ONCO employees began to reflect on why we all got into this business – how have our own individual cancer experiences molded us? What made us want to make an impact? What would we tell survivors? We thought we’d share a few of these stories to illustrate how improving cancer care is a calling for many of us and why it’s embedded into the culture of the company.
My cancer experience:
On my last visit with my PCP, who was retiring – how dare he? – he noticed an area on my forearm and told me it needed to be removed. I had only been seeing him for over 20 years at this time but usually didn’t wear short-sleeve shirts to the visits apparently because he never mentioned it. I remember having this “spot” on my arm since I was in school so many years ago. Anyway, I had an appointment with a plastic surgeon the following week for a follow-up and asked him to look at it. He took it off right then and sent for a biopsy. In the meantime, my father had undergone surgery for a SCC of the parotid gland and had to be readmitted to the hospital. I was going to spend the night with him that night when my plastic surgeon called with the results. “Superficial spreading melanoma” and “we have to make an appointment for a surgeon to see you.” THAT was a gut-punch. Fast-forward. It was a Stage I with no residual at surgery, sentinel lymph nodes negative, 8 mm at time of excision. I have an ugly scar but very thankful for it. My family has been affected tremendously by cancer. My oldest sister was diagnosed with breast cancer and as stated, my father with parotid gland. That’s 50% of my immediate family, if you’re counting. My father is one of 10 kids, six of which were diagnosed with cancer. My mother’s side of the family isn’t quite as bad, I guess but back in the 1920’s cancer wasn’t such a “thing”. We know that her Mama had some sort of GYN malignancy, and her father had either lung cancer or TB. My sister and I have had genetic testing and are making decisions on those results.
How has this affected my life and career?
I do not take life for granted any longer. I have been very blessed all my life and this is just another part of my story. It helped tremendously to know so much about cancer when I heard those words and was able to process them. I knew going into the surgeon’s office what to ask, what to expect, etc. This also helped my family through this time to know that we already knew so much about the disease, stage, surgery and recovery.
What do I have to say to other survivors for National Cancer Survivors Month?
Stay strong! Keep your head up! It is o.k. to be sad, hurt, angry and all the other stages that we all go through but DON’T STAY THERE! There is too much living to do! I am cheering for you!
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