It was Thanksgiving Day in 2012 when David Paul started feeling ill. His sinuses started to take over and he noticed a lump on the side of his neck. He decided to stay home and skip out on feasting and festivities.
When his condition continued to progress, David wasted no time and went to the local urgent care center to determine the problem.
After examination, the physician diagnosed him with a severe sinus infection. He instructed David to take medication and monitor it for the next week. If symptoms continued or worsened, he needed to follow up with his primary care physician.
After a few days, David began to feel worse and immediately followed up with his doctor. At his appointment, David’s physician showed concern and referred him to Spencer Gilleon, MD, Otolaryngologist also known as an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist. “I remember the day Mr. Paul walked in. His demeanor was cheerful, as it always is, but I could tell he was concerned,” recalled Dr. Gilleon. “After an exam and biopsy, we were able to identify the source.”
David was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma and sent to the Tallahassee Memorial Cancer Center for immediate treatment.
“I will never forget the feeling I experienced when I walked into the Center. At first, I was devastated to be there. However almost instantaneously, I was provided with an incredible amount of hope,” said David. “The employees, nurses and physicians were always smiling and making me feel better. It was then that I learned how important it is to stay positive.”
David received a customized treatment plan of chemotherapy and radiation to aggressively attack his cancer led by Amit Jain, MD, Hematologist/Oncologist and Ovidiu Marina, MD, Radiation Oncologist and supported by the experienced team at the Cancer Center.
“Dr. Jain was the first physician I met with at the Cancer Center. He was absolutely terrific and so thoughtful, which helped set my expectations,” said David. “When I met Dr. Marina for additional treatment, I was comforted by how knowledgeable he is.”
Dr. Jain, a board-certified hematologist/oncologist with Physician Partners - Cancer & Hematology Specialists, oversaw David’s chemotherapy treatment. While Dr. Marina, a board-certified radiation oncologist with Physician Partners - Radiation Oncology Specialists completed David’s radiation treatments.
“During an appointment with Dr. Marina, I remember sharing new symptoms with him. Nothing that in my opinion was too out of the ordinary, but I wanted to make him aware,” explained David. “Instead of overlooking it, he insisted I get checked out and went above and beyond to make certain I was in good health. I could tell he truly cares about his patients.”
It was June 2013 when David received the news. He was cancer free.
