Patricia Hyler, RN, BS, MSHA

As nurse manager of the Angie Deeb Cancer Unit Inpatient/Outpatient at the Tallahassee Memorial Cancer Center, Patricia Hyler is dedicated to providing comprehensive chemotherapy services to patients. She knows that patients rely on her and her staff for treatment, comfort and care. But Patricia did not think that one day she would be diagnosed with cancer herself and would have to rely on physicians from the very same hospital where she worked to provide treatment for her cancer care.

It all started with a visit to board certified gynecologist, Alex J. Brickler III, MD of North Florida Women’s Care. “I am post-menopausal, but I was experiencing some spotting,” said Patricia. “Dr. Brickler performed a biopsy (removal of tissue for testing) on my cervix and uterus, and recommended that I have my cervix and uterus removed. I opted to have my ovaries removed as well in a surgical procedure called Total Abdominal Hysterectomy-Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy.”

Patricia’s surgery was performed at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital by Dr. Brickler and it was during that surgery that a tumor was found in the left ovary. Fibroid tumors in the uterus are common, but the ovarian tumor was sent off for testing to determine if it was cancerous. The testing confirmed Patricia’s worst fears; the tumor was a rare form of ovarian cancer known as a granulosa cell tumor. “I am so thankful I had the total hysterectomy because who knows if the cancer in my ovaries would have ever been caught if they weren’t removed,” Patricia said.

Dr. Brickler referred Patricia to John McBroom, MD, a board certified gynecological oncologist of Tallahassee GYN-Oncology. Dr. McBroom is the only physician in the Big Bend region who specializes in the treatment of gynecology-related cancers.

“At first, I was considering going to MD Anderson, Shands or Moffitt for the surgery,” Patricia explained. “But Dr. McBroom explained that he had performed a number of surgeries relating to ovarian cancer, and I felt extremely comfortable with him. He is gentle, warm, compassionate and genuinely cares about his patients. And the fact that I didn’t need to go out of town for surgery just put icing on the cake.”

“I told Patricia that a staging procedure was recommended involving a biopsy and removal of lymph nodes to determine the stage of cancer (the extent of cancer in her body),” said Dr. McBroom. “I wanted to make sure that Patricia received the best treatment possible.”

Dr. McBroom performed Patricia’s procedure at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and she was diagnosed as having Stage 1 ovarian cancer, which did not require chemotherapy or other types of cancer treatment, and the cancer had not spread to other parts of her body.

“Granulosa cell tumors have an excellent long term prognosis when caught in Stage 1,” said Dr. McBroom. “Patricia will continue to have checkups that include Inhibin B, a blood test serum marker for granulosa cell tumors.”

Today Patricia is cancer free. She stresses to women to be more cognizant of their bodies and to not ignore symptoms of ovarian cancer which include bloating or changes in appetite or bowel habits, an unexplained increase in girth size and pelvic pain.

“Having cancer made me realize how I needed to become an advocate for higher standards, protocols and testing for all women,” Patricia explains. “Tests exist today that can prevent and detect cancer before symptoms occur and I am living proof that every woman deserves a fighting chance.”