Gynecologic Oncology

An unwavering commitment

A mother’s truth about being diagnosed with cancer.

Facing reality

Asha McGee, 48, was working hard to provide for her kids when she was faced with a new challenge that would change her and her family’s lives. In January 2021, McGee began experiencing severe abdominal pain. There were mornings when she could not get out of bed or eat or drink anything because of the extreme pain. McGee believed the discomfort was associated with her age, so she brushed it aside and put on a strong face.

After several weeks, McGee could no longer bear it, and she called her sister to take her to the emergency room, where the care team ran some tests. McGee recalls the moment when the doctors came into her room to inform her that she had multiple abdominal masses that resembled ovarian cancer.

“I heard the doctors say ‘cancer,’ and I blacked out,” McGee said. “I was unable to process anything else they said to me.”

After the initial shock of the cancer diagnosis, McGee was flooded with thoughts of her children. With her youngest daughter in her final year of high school, all she wanted was to see her daughter graduate and to make sure all her kids were cared for. Time was crucial. McGee’s ovarian cancer had already spread to her spleen and kidney.

“Everyone pitched in, everyone jumped in headfirst, and there was no hesitation about it,” said McGee. “I told my kids that you’re all I got, and I’m all that you got.”

True grit

Lauren Hand, MD, a gynecologic oncology surgeon at Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, originally met McGee the night she was admitted into the hospital. Not even 24 hours later, Dr. Hand was sitting on McGee’s bed in the hospital room explaining to her the severity of her ovarian cancer and what her treatment would look like going forward.

“I try to connect with my patients and form a relationship right from the start,” said Dr. Hand.

Dr. Hand made it her priority to get McGee’s treatment started right away, starting with preoperative chemotherapy to help shrink the tumors.

“I wanted to get Asha started on treatment as soon as possible because of how far along her cancer was,” said Dr. Hand.

McGee felt scared leading up to her surgery, but she knew she needed to go through with it. Her cancer was too far along to wait any longer.

“At that moment I had to get treatment, and I couldn’t play around with that,” said McGee.

McGee then underwent complex surgery that resulted in the removal of her cancer, along with her reproductive organs, spleen, left adrenal gland, part of the left kidney and a portion of her stomach. The surgical team was led by Dr. Hand and included Baptist MD Anderson experts in surgical oncology and urologic oncology.

According to Dr. Hand, McGee did well with surgery and was only in the hospital for one week. After discharge, she received additional chemotherapy to help maximize the effectiveness of her treatment.

Dr. Hand recommended McGee take off work for six weeks – the standard length of time for a procedure this complex. With McGee’s spirit of determination, Dr. Hand was confident she would be back on her feet and working again in six weeks on the dot.

Unwavering commitment

When McGee returned to work, she scheduled her shifts around her chemotherapy treatments because she still needed to provide for her family. Dr. Hand was inspired by McGee’s drive as she worked hard throughout her treatment.

“The fact that she worked with a smile on her face despite all she was going through was incredibly inspirational,” Dr. Hand said. Although the treatment caused McGee to feel sluggish and lose her appetite, she refused to let cancer take control of her life. She put on a strong face for her children.

“I’ve been through divorce and raising kids by myself… I wasn’t going to let the cancer put me in a position where I was not able to care for my kids,” said McGee. “I was determined to make sure that I had a roof over my head, food in my house and that my kids were provided for.”

Honesty is the best policy

When McGee reflects on the care she received with Baptist MD Anderson, she thinks of how honest and straightforward the doctors were with her, especially Dr. Hand, who did not waste any time explaining McGee’s diagnosis and the reality of her disease.

“I don’t know what it was about her, but when she came into that initial visit with me, she sat on the bed with me and was straightforward from the beginning,” said McGee. “I respected how honest she was, and I believe that is why I felt so comfortable with her.”

Ghazal Vafabakhsh, PA-C, Dr. Hand’s physician assistant, also met McGee during her initial visit to the hospital and assisted Dr. Hand during McGee’s operation. Vafabakhsh interacted with McGee throughout her follow-up and chemotherapy appointments.

“Asha took what we gave her seriously, and she followed through,” said Vafabakhsh. “She did what we asked of her – which was a lot.”

Dr. Hand’s nurse, Michele Mayerlen, called McGee daily to make sure she was moving forward with the next steps.

Lauren Hand, MD (left), a gynecologic oncologist at Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, reviews McGee’s patient chart with Ghazal Vafabakhsh, PA-C (right), her physician assistant.

“They were on it,” said McGee. “Dr. Hand’s nurse was like a bulldog – she called every day.”

Family over everything

Since her initial diagnosis, McGee’s family has pitched in to help with her treatment, and they have grown closer than they’ve ever been. Her sister stepped in too, always bringing McGee food whenever she needed it.

When going through cancer treatment, McGee said that the most crucial aspect was having her family’s support from the original diagnosis through treatment and beyond.

“Everyone pitched in, everyone jumped in headfirst, and there was no hesitation about it,” said McGee. “I told my kids that you’re all that I got, and I’m all that you got.”

During a recent appointment, McGee found out that her cancer has returned. She knows she not only has the support of her family, but of the entire Baptist MD Anderson team. “If there is anyone who has the strength to keep fighting, it is McGee,” said Dr. Hand.

Dr. Hand, Ghazal and the entire clinic team will continue to support McGee throughout her cancer journey, providing her with care during her followup and chemotherapy appointments. Additionally, the team will provide support services, including social workers and psychology colleagues, offering her access to multidisciplinary resources right here at Baptist MD Anderson.

“Even though my cancer has come back, it just means the fight continues on,” McGee said.

Video

Learn more about the gynecologic oncology team by watching a video featuring Dr. Hand.