Lessons learned when the doctor becomes the patient
Life and Career
Dr. Turner lives in Conifer, Colorado with her three sons, two dogs, one cat, and one husband. She has degrees from the University of Texas in Austin and Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. She completed her residency at the University of Colorado Affiliated Hospitals in Denver and her fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital. Nothing in her education or years in private practice could prepare her for Waldy and Myelo. She is the only known cancer patient in the world to experience both conditions simultaneously.
Her Cancer Journey
Dr. Carol Turner is a mom, wife, physician, outdoor recreation enthusiast, and cancer patient—in that order. In spite of being diagnosed with a rare combination of conditions, she refuses to let her illness define who she is. She isn’t afraid to get up close and personal with her cancers. “Waldy” is her pet name for Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia, a rare bone marrow lymphoma. Waldy is joined by “Myelo,” also known as Myelodysplastic Syndrome, a cancer that affects the stem cells in the bone marrow. Her recovery story is populated with a colorful cast of characters, some helpful and others not so much.
A Doctor’s Perspective
Cancer treatment can be mystifying for a layperson, with all its tests, trials, staging, treatment options, and side effects. There is almost never a straight path to recovery. As a physician, Dr. Turner is not afraid to go toe-to-toe with healthcare providers and be her own strongest advocate. Through her knowledge and passion for helping others, her story is a breath of fresh air for anyone who faces similar cancer treatment challenges.