Tamra Whiteley-Myers, M.D.

April 8th, 2007

. . .that I am finally back to work!  As of April 9, 2007, the office is open for business.  My staff has diligently worked to reschedule each person whose appointment was cancelled due to my (nearly) three month medical leave.  I don’t think there is a single person we have overlooked, but if you believe you were, please call as soon as possible so we may find a place for you on our schedule.

I owe a debt of gratitude to Drs. Segal and Lynn for so graciously accommodating my patients who required medical care during my absence.  I owe another debt to my wonderful staff who worked tirelessly on my behalf and yours to facilitate communication in a very uncertain time.  And lastly, I owe another debt to all my fine patients who supported me in myriad ways while I recovered from my cancer therapy.

I look forward to seeing you all in the days ahead.

Tamra Whiteley-Myers

Thank you for visiting my web page, chronicalling my temporary medical leave from practice. If you are new to this site, my previous postings are archived just below this one at the bottom of the page. To summarize that information, I was diagnosed with breast cancer just after the first of the year. I had successful surgery mid-January, was able to skip chemotherapy because my tumor was small and biologically “lazy,” and am now in the process of receiving radiation treatments. My prognosis is excellent, and I expect to return to my practice once all my therapy is complete.

There is never a convenient time to have cancer. My office staff will have cancelled, rescheduled or redirected over 600 patients by the time my medical leave is complete on April 9, 2007. Fortunately, the end of this episode is in site, and we are just beginning the prodigious task of rescheduling those of you who have missed appointments since the middle of January. For this, we ask your patience.

For those of you who require dermatology services prior to my return, Dr. Robert Segal and Dr. Bruce Lynn have graciously agreed to continue to see my patients whenever possible (phone numbers listed below).

It is said in medical circles that the quantity and quality of a patient’s support during the diagnosis and treatment of cancer is directly related to cancer prognosis. If that is the case, then the good wishes of all my patients expressed in phone calls, cards, food, flowers and prayers have already made me well. I look forward to seeing you all soon.

Tamra Whiteley-Myers, M.D.

Thank you for visiting my web page. If you are new to this site you can view my initial letter to patients below.

Now for some good news! My test results have all been returned, reviewed and debated, and happily, I will not need chemotherapy for my breast cancer. I will have radiation therapy, but that was always to be a part of my treatment plan. It is now underway.

My prognosis is better than first estimated (greater than 90% survival at ten years), and I will be back to work much earlier than I expected. I haven’t yet set a date for my return, but it will be posted here as soon as possible.

In the office, June and April are working hard to notify patients by phone and by letter who are most affected by my medical leave, i.e., those with appointments coming up very soon. They are available to help you in any way possible until my return.

Thank you for your cards, phone calls, flowers, food and prayers. Words are inadequate to express my gratitude for the outpouring of support I have received from patients, colleagues, friends and family. I look forward to seeing you all soon!

Tamra Whiteley-Myers, M.D.