TTUHSC Alumni

Treating Others Like You Want To Be Treated

During the first month of his residency in internal medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Dr. Michael Robertson suddenly went from being the one who treated others to the one who needed treatment. A routine physical showed that he had an enlarged spleen, and blood tests were ordered.

Robertson carried the vial of his own blood downstairs to the laboratory, and he waited while the technician ran the test. The results showed that Robertson had a white blood cell count of about 110,000. The normal amount is between 4,300 and 10,800. Assuming that there had been a mistake, the technician ran the test again, but the results still came back abnormal.

Robertson placed some of his blood on a slide, and he examined the specimen with a microscope. He asked colleagues for their opinions on the sample, and finally they called Dr. Bruce Wimer, a hematologist, to get his opinion. Wimer looked at the blood and confirmed Robertson�s fear.

�My God, I�ve got leukemia,� Robertson remembers saying.

Robertson graduated from Texas Tech University in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology. He then went to the School of Medicine at the Health Sciences Center, where he graduated in 1982. He completed his residency in June 1985.

In July 1982, Robertson was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML), a malignant cancer of the myeloid line of cells in the bone marrow, which results in the uncontrolled growth of white blood cells. It is estimated that 5,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with CML each year. For many, the disorder leads to death.

Fortunately, Dr. Wimer had a friend who was chief of staff of the leukemia section at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. The center had a new experimental treatment for CML, and Robertson and his wife, Lisa, went to Houston. The Health Sciences Center allowed Robertson to use vacation time from his residency, and he spent two weeks in Houston for the treatment.

The treatment consisted of injections of interferons�natural proteins that the body produces. Studies had shown that the interferons were successful in lowering the white blood cell count. On August 4, 1982, Robertson received the first injection. However, the shots had terrible side effects. Soon after, his temperature rocketed to 105 degrees.

Robertson returned to Lubbock to continue with his residency. His wife gave him daily injections, and he battled high fever, shaking, chills, weight loss and anemia. Every three months Robertson traveled back to Houston to see his doctor and have his blood checked. At his first check-up, there was already a significant drop in his white blood cell count. After three years, Robertson�s blood test and bone marrow showed no abnormalities.

He continued the injections for five more years, and on December 16, 1990, he received his last shot. The cancer was gone.

In July 1986, Robertson opened his own practice in Lubbock. He served as chief of staff for Covenant Medical Systems from January 2001 to December 2002. Robertson presently serves as team physician for all men�s and women�s sports at Texas Tech University and as a deacon for Monterey Church of Christ. He also serves on the board of directors for the Health Sciences Center Medical Alumni Association.

Today, there are still no signs of the cancer, but Robertson says the experience gave him a new outlook on his life and his work.

�It gave me the opportunity to see what it�s like to be a patient and to be on the wrong end of bad news. I have an appreciation for my patients and what they go through,� Robertson says. �It�s made me a better physician.�

 

Jan 15, 2020