World Cancer Day: ASCP Patient Champions Program Shines Spotlight on Role of Lab in Cancer Diagnosis

Erin Carter’s experience with not one, but two diagnoses of cancer have propelled her to take charge of learning about her medical test results and the role of the laboratory in her diagnosis.

World Cancer Day approaches on Feb. 4, Erin is especially honored to serve as an ASCP Patient Champion and share her knowledge with others facing similar situations.

“When you have gone through a cancer diagnosis and treatment, you have a unique opportunity to support others in a way that no one else can,” she says. 

Erin was first diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer when she was in college. “I was young, in college and had plans for my life,” she says. “Then, you hear the world cancer and nothing else matters. It puts your life in perspective.”

Through surgery, her thyroid and two lymph nodes were removed and she subsequently underwent a treatment protocol for radioactive iodine. It took six months from the time she was diagnosed until the time treatment was completed.

She got back on track with her life and went on to get married. Her husband, Cody Carter, MD, FASCP, is a pathologist and an active volunteer with ASCP. Meanwhile, she saw her physician every six months. The evaluation was so good that her medical team said she only needed a yearly checkup.

Life moved forward. She became pregnant with the couple’s first child while Cody was in residency in Michigan. After their son, Luke, was born, Erin went to see an endocrinologist who discovered three questionable-looking lymph nodes in her neck. A biopsy revealed cancerous cells in her lymph nodes.

“As my husband is a pathologist, I knew the people in the laboratory conducting the biopsy,” she says. “I asked them to show the slides to Cody, who told me the diagnosis, papillary thyroid cancer.”

They waited until she stopped nursing her infant son before having surgery to remove the cancerous lymph nodes. Because her cancer cells have a genetic mutation that her physicians have found to be resistant to the radioactive iodine treatment, the risk of receiving a second round of iodine treatment was greater than the potential benefit. Instead, Erin sees an endocrinologist every six months to have her cancer monitored with lab work and scans.

Since then, she and Cody have had another child. “So far, so good,” she says, indicating that the cancer has not recurred. But, she is aware of the possibility that it can come back.

“Being aware of it and not letting it control your life is something I’ve tried to have a good handle on,” Erin explains. “I have learned a lot through this process. So much of how my cancer has been treated has been based on lab results. I’ve boned up on where my labs should be.”

Since the family’s recent move to Southern California, Erin hasn’t had a chance to see a specialist. She saw a primary care physician, who My physician was going to change my medication level due the range that my lab results fell in.  However, she was looking at the range for someone that was hypothyroid, not someone with a cancer history.  My levels should be in a different range because of this.  I brought this to the doctor's attention and they decided to keep my medication where it currently is (instead of changing it).  They then suggested that I follow up with a specialist.  I have an appointment at the end of the month.

“It’s really important for patients to be their own advocate and be involved in the process,” she says, adding, “We are a part of our own medical team!”