An Open Letter: Amy's Health

Dear friends,

As some of you already know, this Monday, 1/25, I was diagnosed with melanoma. This week has been one of utter shock and painful waiting. Yesterday we spent the day in Green Bay, with a PET scan in the morning (in which I was injected with radioactive sugars!) and then a follow-up appointment with my new oncologist.

We felt immediately comfortable at the Bellen Cancer Center – the staff and doctor’s are incredibly kind and warm. My oncologist – Dr. Kelly Lynch – is just a little older than us, and she comes highly recommended by my other doctors as well as a doc/friend of ours. (And, she was wearing super-cool, bright-red patent leather shoes, which confirmed her as trustable in our eyes ;)

After reviewing my scans and the bloodwork, Dr. Lynch shared that “there is good news and bad news.” The good news (very, very good news in our eyes) is that the cancer has not metastasized in any of my vital organs. The less-good news is that the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes on the left side of my neck. The oncologist described this as “locally advanced and curable.” The official diagnosis is “Stage 3 Melanoma” which, we recognize, sounds awfully frightening to many. However, after days of contemplating the worst-case scenario, this seems like truly good news; Rhonda and I were so relieved and even happy -- I have a real opportunity to get better. As Dr. Lynch put it: “this IS treatable!”

The treatment is going to be rigorous (or, as Dr. Lynch said “a full-court press.”) I am going to be having surgery to remove the remaining perimeter around the tumor site (my left ear) and they will also take out lymph nodes. Although the plan is still in the works, it is likely that I will begin interferon treatment a month after the surgery. This will be a month of daily treatment followed by 11-months of 3x week treatments. Before all of this happens, I am planning on seeking a second opinion at the Mayo Clinic or another regional clinic with melanoma specialization. Needless to say, I have to take a medical leave from the university for this semester.

So, as we are taking a huge deep breath of relief, we are also beginning to prepare for the long road ahead. We are incredibly thankful for all of the love and support of our local community, my colleagues, our family, and many far-flung friends. The calls and thoughts and prayers are so sustaining and encouraging. We are feeling especially grateful for each other right now, and we feel ready to fight this together. While I recognize the range of emotions that come with this news, I ask that you spend much of your energy imagining me well. As the mid-winter doldrums have hit hard this year, I especially like to imagine myself in the garden, surrounded by the vibrancy of life.


With hope,


Amy