Putting Cancer Care First

By Jennifer Beverly

Joel Wilson, 59, relocated to Myrtle Beach in 2017 to escape the snow and ice in Ohio. An avid golfer, Joel always vacationed at the “Golf Capital of the World,” which made the move an easy decision.

“Every year when my friends and family experience their first snow of the season, I go out to the golf course and take a photo of warm, sunny Myrtle Beach,” said Joel. 

In 2022, a few years after moving to the coast, Joel’s health started to decline. He couldn’t walk more than 20 feet without being in pain and out of breath. 

“The pain became overwhelming,” said Joel. “Activities like going to the grocery store with my wife became impossible. I had to sit down after every few steps.”

Joel decided to make an appointment with his primary care provider Tara Bruno, FNP, of McLeod Primary Care Carolina Forest 2 to find out why he was becoming so sick.

“Tara ordered bloodwork, and when she called with the results, she instructed me to go straight to the Emergency Department at McLeod Health Seacoast,”   stated Joel. “My hemoglobin level was significantly low at 4.5 grams, with the normal range for males being 14 to 18 grams.”

Severely anemic, Joel received four units of blood and was admitted to the hospital for further testing. “A CT scan of my abdomen and pelvis showed what appeared to be a mass in my colon,” said Joel. “Gastroenterologist Dr. Lacie Edmison of McLeod Digestive Health Center Seacoast performed an emergency colonoscopy to get a better look at my bowels.” 

Dr. Edmison found a 5.5-pound, 6.5-inch tumor in Joel’s colon. He was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. 

“The tumor was located in Joel’s transverse colon, which is the longest and most mobile part of the large intestine,” said Dr. Edmison. “It plays an essential role in digestion and the excretion of waste.” 

Unfortunately, this was not Joel’s first colon cancer diagnosis.

 “In 2017, prior to moving to Myrtle Beach, I had part of my colon removed but never followed up for routine examinations,” stated Joel. “Continuing care with my physician may have prevented the recurrence of colon cancer four years later.”

General Surgeon Dr. Hans Blunck, with McLeod Loris Seacoast Surgery, removed Joel’s entire transverse colon. Dr. Blunck referred Joel to Oncologist Dr. Donny Huynh, with McLeod Oncology and Hematology Associates at Seacoast, a department of McLeod Regional Medical Center, for his cancer care. 

After Joel’s first round of chemotherapy at McLeod Health Seacoast, Dr. Huynh ordered blood tests. The results detected a rise in Joel’s Signatera numbers. 

“The Signatera blood test is highly sensitive and can identify a relapse in colorectal cancer sooner through a patient’s DNA,” said Dr. Huynh. “Joel’s Signatera blood test upsurge was very concerning, so I recommended having a PET scan to check for new metastatic tumors.” 

The cancer had metastasized, or spread, to his liver and the bottom lining of Joel’s stomach. He underwent a second round of chemotherapy which shrunk both tumors in his liver and stomach, making them operable. 

“During the operation, the surgeon removed 25 percent of my liver and 20 percent of my stomach,” said Joel. 

A few weeks after surgery, Joel saw Dr. Huynh for a follow-up appointment, and he repeated the Signatera blood test. “Dr. Huynh personally called me to let me know my results from Signatera were zero. No cancer was detected in my body.”

As a precaution, Dr. Hyunh scheduled a CT scan to make sure Joel’s blood test results were correct. The scans were clear. 

“When your Oncologist says you are cancer free, you believe them,” exclaimed Joel. “I’m still in shock.”

Joel received a third and final round of chemotherapy for preventative measures. 

“This is the healthiest I have felt in over 10 years,” said Joel. “I’ll never be able to repay the physicians and staff at McLeod enough, but I want to support the McLeod Health Foundation’s Healing and Hope Campaign by raising money for the McLeod Center for Cancer Treatment and Research at Seacoast.”

Joel recently organized a charity golf tournament, donating 100 percent of the proceeds to the McLeod Health Foundation. He hopes the golf tournament will become an annual event to support cancer services at the coast.