Rick’s Corner     

I have wanted to write something about Dr. Duvic for a while now. I suppose I haven’t because I wasn’t sure I could adequately explain why this woman is so special to me. I still have those doubts, but we’ve come to a time where I do it or I don’t do it and I choose to at least give it a try.

For those one or two of you who don’t know, Dr. Duvic is my doctor, my oncologist. She has a reputation of being one of the top experts in CTCL in the entire country. From the moment I met her, I knew I couldn’t be in better hands. She has always taken the time to patiently explain to me why we’re doing the things we were doing. Almost from the beginning, our goal has been to achieve a bone marrow transplant.

So here we are. My most recent clinical trial was slow to show results, but whether due to Dr. Duvic’s sixth sense or some special knowledge she had, we stayed with the clinical trial for 4 1/2 months (the trial was supposed to last only 4 weeks).

Now I deal with a radiation doctor and a transplant doctor. But I still see Dr. Duvic on a regular basis. She advocates for me. When the radiation doc was more concerned about a whirlpool treatment adversely affecting radiation treatment and said no out of hand, it was Dr. Duvic who asked him if we couldn’t do something more for a patient’s comfort, we got a different answer.

When I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure a couple of weeks ago, it was Dr. Duvic who insisted on additional tests so that we would better know appropriate treatment.

I don’t mean to suggest that everyone else is incompetent. They certainly are not. I do mean to suggest that Dr. Duvic sees me as a human being first and a patient second. My limited experience says that is pretty rare. Whether it is or isn’t, Dr. Duvic’s ‘bedside manner’ has hit a home run with me.

Last week I met with Dr. Duvic for follow up. Things were pretty hectic, but they usually are. On the following day Tracy and I were concerned about whirlpool appointments. Long story short, Tracy ended up talking to Dr. Duvic. She told Tracy how overwhelming the day before had been and that after it was all done, she had gone home and cried.

I don’t know if this was said for effect or not. But someone I had placed on a pedestal had revealed she was a human being. Imagine, I admired this doctor for seeing me as a human being and I couldn’t even return the favor.

Dr. Duvic would probably have a problem with me revealing this story, but I do it with only the best of intentions. Dr. Duvic is a wonderful, remarkable woman.

Many of you have offered up prayers for me and my well-being. I would humbly ask you to do the same for Dr. Madeleine Duvic. Include this wonderful person in your prayers.

God bless Madeleine Duvic.

Rick