They treat you like you’re special and not just a number
In December 2021, George Youngdahl was recovering from a quintuple bypass. During a routine follow up appointment, his doctor detected fluid buildup in George’s lungs. A CAT scan was ordered, which came back showing a suspicious spot on George’s lung, which prompted George to be referred to a pulmonologist for further testing. Final tests revealed that George had multiple myeloma.
Multiple myeloma is a cancer that forms in the white blood cells, also known as plasma cells. The cancerous plasma builds up in bone marrow, destroying the healthy blood cells and leading to a variety of bone problems, such as bone thinning, breaking and pain.
After his diagnosis, George was referred to the Bronson Cancer Center in Battle Creek where he met with Dr. Mudge, a radiation oncologist. Dr. Mudge confirmed that the spot on George’s lung was in fact a cancerous tumor. He suggested George undergo radiation treatment to target both his lung and a nearby area of the spine, where the multiple myeloma had already spread. The goal was to attack the tumor, reducing it in size and stopping further spread.
George’s care team also included Dr. Webb, another radiation oncologist, and Dr. Cox, a medical oncologist. Once radiation was complete, Dr. Cox helped treat the cancer medically, using chemotherapy and immunotherapy. During his treatment, George also worked closely with Rachel Rang, NP, a palliative care provider, to help manage his pain. It took a couple of rounds of treatment, but George’s numbers started to come down, and now, he only has to come to the cancer center every few months for ongoing monitoring.
According to Sue Youngdahl, George’s wife of 58 years, “There is not a place in the world that could have been any kinder to George. We had so many positive experiences while he was at the cancer center. From walking in the front door and being greeted, to meeting all of the staff and care team, they're just so positive!”
Throughout his time at the cancer center, George and Sue formed friendships with the staff. When they arrived for appointments, the greeting staff added a personal touch to their name tags, calling them ‘Gorgeous George’ and ‘Sweet Sue.’ They became involved in the support groups and events offered at the Cancer Center, including the Annual Survivors’ Celebration and Bronson’s Relay for Life team. George and Sue enjoyed seeing his care team, like Dr. Cox and Dr. Mudge at these events. “They really are caring outside of the office. They are involved and you can just see that these are people who really care about their patients,” Sue explained.
When looking for a Bronson patient to sing at the annual Pink Ice game for the Kalamazoo Wings Hockey Club, staff at the Bronson Cancer Center knew George was the perfect candidate. With over 40 years of singing experience, George has proudly sung the national anthem at many events across Southwest Michigan. “They took such good care of me,” George said. “Singing on the ice in front of the crowd that size was a special experience!”
George shared that he feels extremely blessed by his experience at the Bronson Cancer Center in Battle Creek. “If you ever have to go through something like this, having people who treat you like you’re special and not just another patient or number really makes a huge difference in your treatment,” said George. He feels that the support of the staff at Bronson, his loving family, his faith, the prayers of others and his positive attitude have led to his great experience. “I am thankful for everything I have. I am very pleased with my outcomes.”
