Jason Phillips
In early 2020, I noticed a bald spot forming on the top of my head. For years prior, I had battled infections like MRSA and Staff, and honestly thought it was another infectious flare up. Soon after a knot started to form, I was taking some antibiotics and seeing what that would do as the globe shut down for COVID. The knot, would continue to grow for the next several months, and finally in June was able to have someone look at it. The initial thought was a clogged node, and they would try and scrape it, possibly remove it. That procedure didn’t go as planned and I was referred to 3 dermatologist. I reached out to all 3, but they had such a back log from the shut down months, no one was taking new patients at the time.
That’s where Dr Neubauer came in. I had an ongoing working relationship with Dr Neubauer. She was building a new home, and I owned an electrical contracting company. We were providing the electrical services for her home. I reached out to her for help, and she was able to get me in towards the middle of August for a biopsy.
The morning of Sept 1st, she called me with the news. She told me I had a rarer form of cancer called desmoplastic melanoma. It wasn’t common in people my age, and urged me to stay off the internet. Prior to calling me, she had already hand selected a care team of people she was putting me in the hands of at KU MED. Within 2 hours I had scans scheduled, and appointments with multiple care team members.
My initial news came as a shock, and a scare. Cancer has always been a bad word, and not something anyone wants as a diagnosis. My knot, was no longer a knot, it was a giant cancerous tumor.
The team at KU couldn’t have been better. They were prompt, thorough, and precise. I’ve got some battle wounds from the fight, but I’m here to show them off. Can’t thank the care team enough.
Dr Neubauer, Dr Shnayder, Dr Doolittle and PA Rae, I owe you everything and will never forget it.
