Specialties collaborate to create an effective treatment plan

A dermatologist and hematologist/oncologist keep a patient’s rare lymphoma in remission.

Victoria’s story

Dr. Ackerman biopsied my skin and quickly discovered I had cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, a rare type of cancer that starts in the white blood cells and attacks the skin. I was shocked and scared and was worried it would spread. As Dr. Ackerman talked with me about this diagnosis and the treatment plan, her calm presence and optimism made me feel much better. With her help, I was treated and in remission within 15 months.

I continued to see Dr. Ackerman for regular appointments, which was fortunate when eight years later she found the lymphoma had returned. She worked with hematologist/oncologist Dr. Craig Reeder to confirm the diagnosis and develop a treatment plan, and I’m now back in remission. I will need UV therapy and topical chemotherapy treatments for the rest of my life, but I can do them from home, so it doesn’t take away from my personal life or my work as a dialysis nurse.

With this team of physicians behind me, I won’t let cancer stop me from living my life.

The dermatologist's perspective

“Skin conditions can be the first sign something is wrong with someone’s health, and as such, dermatologists often can identify the primary issue at hand. Dermatologists have the unique privilege of working with other appropriate specialists to connect the dots and better serve patients like Victoria. We enjoy the collaboration we share with other physicians with various areas of expertise to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. I am grateful to work alongside colleagues like Dr. Reeder.”

─ Lindsay Ackerman, MD, FAAD, Medical Dermatology Specialists, Phoenix