Thursday, March 22, 2012


Karen White has Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC), cancer in the salivary gland. She is the wife and office manager for Brad White—the pianist and singer that traveled with James Blackwood Quartet and then with Jimmy Blackwood and the Blackwood Brothers Quartet.

Bless Karen and her family with support. Check the fund raiser page where Art Greenhaw is offering a music package for your donation. Or stop by Brad White Ministries and donate to the White family directly.  

Over the next few weeks I’ll be sharing Karen’s journey through the rare cancer, ACC.

Interview with Karen White:

Question: When did you first suspect something might be wrong and why?

Answer: When my tongue ran over a certain part of my cheek, I noticed just a little bump. You get things like that all the time and I didn’t think anything of it at first. But after it had been there for months, it seemed like I should have it checked.


Question: I know you saw an ENT first. Once he established a problem how did you choose a specialist near home?

Answer: My ENT doctor recommended an ENT oncologist here in Memphis. Apparently, there are not many ENT oncologists and this doctor is considered one of the best specialists in the country.

Question: After your ACC diagnosis did you research on your own or rely on your physician to help you make a treatment decision?

Answer: We did some research early, but relied on the ENT oncologist in the beginning. He wanted to go back and take a larger area than the original doctor since it was now diagnosed as ACC. After the surgery, he set me up for six weeks of radiation. According to what we have read, this is standard treatment for ACC.

However, a few days after surgery, a man named Drexel Hendon came to one of Brad’s concerts and told him about Proton Radiation. We did a lot of research and felt that M.D. Anderson in Houston, Texas, would be my best option.

Side note from Kat:
·         ACC is sometimes misdiagnosed.
·         ACC originates in the salivary gland.
·         Most doctors never see a patient with ACC.  
Please pray for Karen and the family.

Written by the Lionhearted Kat. Sponsored by Art Greenhaw, Ken and DeAnn Johnson 

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