Dr. J and Cindy

Cindy's lead hematology/oncologist and principal of Cancer Care Associates practice. Dr. Ishmael Jaiyesimi ("Dr. J")  was Cindy's breast cancer doc from 2011-2016 (DCIS, Stage 0, lumpectomy, radiation, tamoxifen for 5 years...). Highly credentialed - Medical oncologist, hematology oncologist, plus - his examination room wall is littered with degrees and sub-specialties.  Early training at Beaumont and M.D. Anderson, heavily recruited by Beaumont to practice in Michigan.  ("They wouldn't leave me alone," he explained.)

Immediately likeable - tall (6'4"?), lean, black-skinned Nigerian who impressed me (Glenn) as uber-smart, and conversationally adept with the science and latest clinical trends while very kind, deferential to patients, compassionate.  We like how he mentions God all the time, very deferential to the Lord and bows when he greets you - disarming. 

Dr. J and Cindy have a special connection, his "friend" he calls her.  She's so white and itty bitty next to him, so tall and dark. 

She fondly recalls a discussion she had with him when he was deciding which maintenance drug to recommend following her breast-cancer treatment. Cindy swayed Dr. J toward tamoxifen due to less chance of developing osteoporosis.  He agreed, assessing Cindy was a healthy, "skinny white woman" and would do well. When Cindy retells the story, she tries to mimic Dr. J's Nigerian accent when he said "skinny white woman." 

She did do well with tamoxifen, completing five years of it in 2016 and had great follow-up check-ups since.

Other docs from Cancer Care Associates that CIndy has seen are:

Dr. LeAnn Blankenship and Dr. Michael Stender

We've had the most contact with Dr. Anish Konde who is a hematology/oncology fellow associated with the practice.  (Fellows are M.D.s or D.O.s who are securing further "sub-specialty" certification.)