My Cancer Story

MY CANCER STORY - BOB MORRIS

“As we are all touched by cancer among friends and family, the thought that the diagnosis messaging is shocking is obvious.  What you may not realize is that the initial diagnosis is mostly delivered via computer as the test results get posted to the electronic medical record (EMR). Those results come quickly and without physician color. As my best friend from high school, an advanced sarcoma survivor, informed me just this week; he has panic attacks before his quarterly scans. They can represent a death sentence delivered by the EMR.

For me, the message came from MyChart after a second biopsy 3 months on the heels of a clear MRI.  I honestly thought that continued saddle time on my stationary bicycle was creating erratic PSA readings.  So a biopsy indicating an advanced cancer was shocking screen time. I had snuck a horrifying peak during a virtual meeting at work. Within hours I learned that the surgeon wouldn’t see me until several scans could prove the cancer had not metastasized; it was advanced enough that surgery may not be an option...

That spawned weeks of thoughts about missing weddings, grandkids, and my boys navigating their lives without me. The thoughts of spending the last few precious days with my mother as she succumbed to ovarian cancer and how she must have shared similar regrets. That vulnerability and the impact on my psychology are the most notable personal impacts since the rest is in the hands of God and the clinicians. 

I’m among the fortunate – health insurance, breaks in earnings, supporting my family, copays, mortgage payments, and transportation were not among my chief concerns as is the case for so many. The Gala of Hope addressing that group of challenges head-on for those impacted by cancer in the Dayton community has been one of the many rewards of being a part of the Gala board... 

I’m still living the journey as treatment continues. The evolution of hope continues in my personal story enhanced by research and technological advances that the Gala also impacts. I have been the beneficiary of testing, scanning, robotic surgery, genetic research on tumor growth, statistical modeling of when radiation treatment is most effective, and precision cone-beam radiation meshing physiology with the application of radiation. The hope engendered by advanced techniques available in Dayton and facilitated across our varied populations by the Gala is remarkable and expands continually.

An experienced clinician told me that it would be a roller coaster ride with triumphs and set-backs. It certainly has been that. The Gala of Hope stands ready to assist all Daytonians across that journey of hope to send cancer into the sunset.”