As a creative writing professor and published author, Michael knows that a story is only as good as its ending. So when he was diagnosed with cancer on his larynx, he refused to let it be his final chapter.
With the understanding that undergoing a traditional laryngectomy would mean saving his life at the cost of voice, Michael looked for an alternative. He found it when he met with John Brockenbrough, MD, at Carle Cancer Center’s head and neck specialty clinic. Through the Center’s partnership with Mayo Clinic, he enrolled in a clinical trial that combined radiation treatment with chemotherapy in a new way. Michael saw strong results from the clinical trial, shrinking the tumor to the point that it could be removed while sparing his voice.
Michael believes his experience with cancer has made him a stronger person. It required the toughness to endure not only physically, but mentally. And through this newfound strength and ability to persevere, Michael has not only survived, he’s thrived.
Since finishing his treatment, Michael has returned to writing and teaching with renewed energy. He has finished two novels and a screenplay, and continues to write at a prolific pace. For Michael, cancer was not the end, it was a new beginning.