In Her Own Words

A HIDDEN GEM: Carol Anderson’s Journey with the Leonard C.Ferguson Cancer Center

 

For Carol Anderson of Forreston, healthcare at FHN had always been reliable, routine, and reassuring. “I always had great labs and appointments,” she recalls. “Dr. Miller and I often joked that I was such an easy patient.” With no family history of cancer, she never imagined the Leonard C. Ferguson Cancer Center at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport would become such a central part of her life.

That changed after a routine check-up with her longtime primary care provider, FHN Family Medicine Physician Terry Miller, MD. Just before leaving, Carol mentioned an unusual feeling in her stomach.

“Since you never complain about anything, let’s take a closer look,” Dr. Miller said. A CAT scan quickly followed, and within days, Carol received the life-altering diagnosis: Stage 4A ovarian cancer.

“It would have been so easy to put it off,” Carol says, “but I am grateful I had a doctor who really listened.”

Carol began her treatment in Madison with a series of tests and major surgery. Still recovering, she knew she wanted to arrange for her ongoing care closer to home. With the help of a nurse navigator, she transitioned her care to the Leonard C. Ferguson Cancer Center at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport – a decision that, in her words, changed everything.

“I walked into the Cancer Center, and it was calm … it was peaceful,” Carol says. “Amanda and Natalie at the front desk, no matter what was going on in their lives, always wore huge smiles. I felt like, wow, things might just be OK.”

Though the emotional toll of her diagnosis was heavy, Carol was lifted by the support of her friends, family, and her new care team led by FHN Medical Oncologist Arshad Shaikh, MD, and oncology nurse Kathy. Treatment was just 20 minutes from home, allowing her husband, coworkers, friends, and even the family dog to be part of her journey. “I never felt like I was going through cancer treatment,” she says. “The nurses often laughed and said it was more like a party. They knew exactly what I needed to get through this.”

Over the past two years, Carol has continued treatment, now through immunotherapy, and her appreciation for the Cancer Center only deepens. “Every time someone comes to get me from the waiting room, I think, ‘Oh, my favorite!’ because they all are my favorite,” she says with a smile.

One moment stood out especially: After meeting a new nurse for the first time, Carol later received a handwritten card thanking her for the privilege of providing her care. “Whoever selects the staff here knows exactly what they are doing.”

Her oncologist, Dr. Shaikh, has been a constant source of strength. “He has the most honest and encouraging bedside manner. He always gave me the facts, but he also always made me feel like I knew why what they were doing was important. I think he works miracles.”

Looking back, Carol shares three pieces of advice for anyone newly diagnosed:
1. Stay off Dr. Google. “It can be a terrifying place.”
2. Advocate for yourself. “If I hadn’t asked about treatment closer to home, I wouldn’t have been placed at FHN.”
3. Take a support person. “It can be overwhelming, and having someone to absorb the information makes all the difference.”