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PATIENT
PROFILES
Meet Roby & Roy Gray, breast & prostate
cancer survivors
Kindred spirits…that would be
the best way to describe Roby and Roy Gray. This charming
couple who met on a blind date in August of 1960, have
shared not only their lives together, but have also shared
caring for one another while recovering from cancer.
“It was February of 1992 when I discovered
a small lump in my left breast,” recalls Roby. “My
mom had died of breast cancer, so I was familiar with the
disease..."
“It was February of 1992 when I discovered a small
lump in my left breast,” recalls Roby. “My mom
had died of breast cancer, so I was familiar with the disease … it
never really got me down. As a painter and licensed beautician,
I tend to have a positive outlook on things.”
The tumor and eleven lymph nodes were
removed during surgery in March of 1992, and chemotherapy
and radiation treatments followed. “I immediately
felt at home when I walked through the doors of OncoLogics.
The people there are really amazing. They take time, real
personal time to make sure that you understand what is
happening, and they are there for you as compassionate
human beings to give you support. It is like you are a
member of their family,” recalls
Roby.
“When my daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer
later down the road, Dr. DeLand, who was not even treating
her because she lived out-of-state, took two hours to read
over her charts to make sure she was receiving the best possible
treatment. That is far above the call of duty. I can’t
tell you how much that meant for me as an individual and
a mother,” recalls Roby. During her recuperation, Roy
was always at her side taking special care of her, making
sure that she was as comfortable as she could possibly be.
Little did he know that a few years later, their roles would
be reversed.
“I was in the Navy, and it was there that I smoked.
I thought if I were to ever get cancer, it would be from
that,” says Roy. “I was having some problems
with an enlarged prostate, so I was seeing a Urologist about
that for years. Going in for a check up, they noticed that
I had a spike in my PSA levels,” recalls this aircraft
mechanic of over 20 years.
“In July of 2004, I was diagnosed with
prostate cancer. I felt pretty low,” remembers Roy. “Since
we had such a great experience with Roby’s treatment,
going to OncoLogics was a foregone conclusion."
“In July of 2004, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
I felt pretty low,” remembers Roy. “Since we
had such a great experience with Roby’s treatment,
going to OncoLogics was a foregone conclusion. We live in
Opelousas, so I went to their clinic there. I met with Dr.
Krawczyk, and he was going to do seed implants. I was really
nervous about the procedure, but when it was over I’d
have to say it was not bad at all.”
Just as Roy did for Roby during her recovery,
Roby took care of Roy during his … this common thread
bringing them closer than they already were. They both
give thanks everyday for Evelyn, Della, and Drs. DeLand
and Krawczyk for helping them through their ordeals, and
with their daughter. With cancer behind them, this couple
of 47 years is back to living their lives, traveling, and
spending time with their children and each other.
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