Hi my name is Toby Brotman. I am an 82-year-old lady. I have three married daughters, one of whom lives in New Paltz, New York, and 5 grandchildren. I was diagnosed with advanced malignant melanoma in February 2019 while I was on vacation in Florida. My nephew, Dr. Neill Iscoe, a Toronto oncologist, wanted me to be treated specifically at Princess Margaret. He set it up for me. I had two successful surgeries by Dr. Laframboise in the groin area, one on the right side and a couple of months later, one on the left side. I was put on immunotherapy for a few months. The melanoma regrew in the same spot where I had the surgery. I was then put on targeted therapy in September 2019. Very successful. I have a CT scan of the pelvis, abdomen, and thorax every three months. I get blood work done at PMH every four weeks, followed by a virtual oncologist visit. I had a brain MRI in July, where they found three lesions in my brain. Now I have a brain MRI done every three months. I am checked very carefully, and the report comes into my UHN, followed by a virtual visit, amazing. My care under Dr. David Hogg, which began in May 2019, has been excellent. I feel well. I walk 45 minutes every day. I swim. I play golf. I see my kids and grandkids for dinners outside at their homes every Friday. I meet up with relatives and friends for lunch outdoors on patios. I attend lectures and play online games such as canasta and mahjongg. I have been playing canasta on a friend’s porch every Monday. I play Mahjongg outside at different friends’ homes every Thursday. I enjoy every day. I’m very active. I plan to do one nice thing every day. I have routines set up. Glad to be alive. When I have a health problem, I call the nursing line. The attention I get there has been excellent. As an example, on Wednesday, I called the nursing line as I was feeling weak and tired. The RN questioned me on my symptoms, then called my doctor, who told me to get my blood work done the following day. I did that in the morning of the very next day. I received a call from the doctor at 3:00 pm same day that the blood work was done, showing that my thyroid was low. That’s why I was feeling weak and tired. I was prescribed medication for my thyroid. How quick and amazing a response was that. I’m in the best of hands. If I need anything, he refers me to the right doctors. I don’t need to worry and can carry on happily with my life and enjoy my busy schedule as my doctor looks after me so well. I live very close to the hospital at St. George subway station. I walk there and back, counting my steps, getting in my exercise at the same time.
Toby Brotman
