Mari Lou’s Story: ‘I’m Not Going Anywhere Else’

Last summer, Mari Lou Parkinson, 70, of Lewes, Delaware, was alarmed to experience postmenopausal bleeding. She immediately called her gynecologist, and tests found that she had fibroids. After the tissue was biopsied, Parkinson was diagnosed with high-grade serous endometrial cancer, an aggressive form of cancer.

Because Parkinson needed surgery, her gynecologist referred her to Arielle Katcher, M.D., a gynecologic oncologist at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute in Newark, Delaware. It was 90 minutes from Parkinson’s home. “We’re the only two gynecologic oncologists in the state of Delaware, so people come to us from quite far – throughout the whole state, even parts of Maryland and Pennsylvania,”  Katcher said. Parkinson had a good feeling about Katcher the moment they met.

“When she first came into the room, it was an instant connection,” Parkinson said. “She was smiling, friendly and had an air of confidence about her. She listened to my questions and gave me her full attention. I felt valued and respected every time we met.”

One of Parkinson’s good friends had created a notebook to help guide her through her cancer journey. The notebook had questions to ask before, during and after surgery and treatment. “There was information in there about obtaining second opinions and options elsewhere,” Parkinson said, “but after meeting Dr. Katcher, I thought, ‘I’m not going anywhere else. I’m going to be here with Dr. Katcher.’” Katcher explained that Parkinson needed a total abdominal hysterectomy, and surgery would be the first step in her treatment plan. “I was very honest with her about her high-risk cancer,” Katcher said. “We strongly recommend therapy to treat any microscopic disease that might be left over and to help decrease the risk of recurrence.” After Parkinson’s surgery at Christiana Hospital, she learned that she had stage 1A cancer.  Katcher created a treatment plan with six rounds of chemotherapy, followed by three rounds of brachytherapy, which is internal radiation therapy.

Parkinson didn’t love the idea of traveling 90 minutes for chemotherapy on a regular basis, but she wanted to remain under Katcher’s care. Because Katcher often sees patients who live a distance away, she knew that she could manage Parkinson’s chemotherapy treatments at another cancer center, just 10 minutes from Parkinson’s home. “We understand that traveling back and forth for a lot of visits can be a burden,” Katcher said. “All the cancer center had to do was follow through with the plan I already created.” Katcher reassured Parkinson that she’d receive the same chemotherapy treatment she would have gotten at ChristianaCare. Katcher communicated regularly with the remote cancer center, staying updated on Parkinson’s care. She and Parkinson met periodically face-to-face and via telehealth, to limit her travel time. “She’s a great example of someone who may not live nearby, but we’re still able to provide her excellent, comprehensive cancer care,” Katcher said.

During one of their in-person appointments, Parkinson asked Katcher to pose for a photo with her for a book that she’s creating to memorialize her cancer journey. Katcher was flattered to be included. “We don’t get a lot of patients who ask if they can take a picture with us at the end of treatment,” she said. After Parkinson’s final radiation treatment in June at Christiana Hospital, Katcher will monitor Parkinson’s health for five years, the timeframe when the cancer is most likely recur. Parkinson is pleased that she’ll continue seeing Katcher. “Unquestionably, she’s one of the best doctors I’ve ever had,” Parkinson said. “And there is no doubt that Dr. Katcher has contributed significantly to maintaining my positive attitude throughout my diagnosis and treatment. It’s scary to hear that you have cancer, but when I met her, I knew she would take care of me.”