Gynecologist Elissa Baskind (46) thought her back pain was the result of the long hours she spent bending over during surgeries, the newspaper reports. She only sought help when the pain prevented her from dancing at a Christmas party at work. “Even as a doctor, you don’t think about the worst things. I was suffering from a pain in my shoulder blades that did not let me sleep. I honestly thought it was related to my work. Not once did I think that it could be something serious,” confided the mother of two children.
An X-ray showed no problem, but abnormalities in blood tests led to an emergency visit to the hospital. She was subsequently diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a rare and aggressive blood cancer. Elissa didn’t allow for any bad scenario and thought she would get back to work quickly. But the first round of chemotherapy failed, forcing her to undergo a stem cell transplant. “It was strange to go from the position of a doctor working in a hospital to the role of a patient,” Elissa said.
18 months later, the doctor discovered a lump in her breast. Tests revealed it was myeloid sarcoma – a rare tumor linked to her leukemia. While studying the literature, she realized that there was no cure. “I was convinced that palliative treatment was waiting for me. That night I started researching the hospice and thought it was the end of the road,“ she described the terrifying moments.
The doctors did not give up hope, even when the chance was small, colleagues suggested another stem cell transplant. Ellissa underwent it in 2022. Two more rounds of chemotherapy followed. The treatment was successful and mom celebrates five years without cancer. “I’m in the best health I’ve ever been,” she said.
Ellissa hopes her story will inspire others, to take their health seriously. “Please listen to your body, don’t ignore the symptoms and persevere until you find out what’s going on. This pain prevented me from dancing, but it may have saved my life.” he says.
