Cancer survivor and Shrewsbury resident Melody Davis is back to enjoying one of her favorite hobbies.
We’ve all been there: With work, family and errands – life can get hectic. So we put aside routine health care, thinking, “Not now!” But sometimes, that’s when we need it most. Last year, Melody Davis was caught up in 70-hour workweeks when she received a call from Theresa Rogers, lead scheduler, Marlborough Hospital Mammography Department, reminding her that her mammogram was six months overdue.
“She made it easy by offering me an appointment on a holiday: Good Friday,” said Melody. “I think I got the call on a Tuesday and I had my mammogram that Friday.” It’s a good thing. The next day, Ronald Garrell, MD, chief of radiology at Marlborough Hospital, was examining the digital image of Melody’s mammogram. As usual, he was comparing her last mammogram with this one when he saw something suspicious – a darkened area on the new image. Dr. Garrell estimates this happens with only five percent of mammograms. Technologist Glenna Leduc called Melody back right away for another look. “I had an ultrasound and core biopsy,” Melody explained.
“Dr. Garrell was forthright but gentle in explaining that I had an aggressive breast cancer. Glenna put her arm around my shoulder.” Since then, Melody had surgery and chemotherapy at UMass Memorial Medical Center and today she feels “really well.” While no one wants to hear they have a serious disease, Melody was thankful for Marlborough Hospital’s follow up. “I hate to think about what would have happened if I didn’t get that reminder call,” she said.
Melody is also thankful for the high-quality, compassionate care she received throughout her treatment. “It would be easy for medical professionals to treat you like the kidney in room 211 or the lung in 212,” she said. “But everyone at Marlborough Hospital and within the UMass Memorial Health Care system has been friendly, nice and concerned for me as a person. It’s been consistently that good.”