For Mike and April Miller, cancer was a word that once held no meaning, had no relevance to their young, busy lives. But the year Mike turned 30, all that changed. Though Mike was seemingly the picture of health, unexplained bruises and bleeding gums began to worry him. So he scheduled a doctor’s appointment one Friday, where he received a thorough exam, and his blood work went to the lab. The visit seemed routine.

 

But at 3 a.m. Saturday morning, the couple’s telephone rang. The lab technician’s voice on the other end of the line sounded urgent: Pack your bags now and go directly to the emergency room at Baptist Memorial Hospital.

 

That weekend, oncologist Edward Muir, MD, was on-call, and when he received the results of Mike’s lab work, along with a bone marrow biopsy, he wasted no time meeting with the young couple. “I’ll never forget his words,” recalled April Miller. “He said, ‘Your husband is consumed with leukemia.’ ” April was thunderstruck. Muir continued, gently outlining a course of action, and comforting the couple as they struggled to comprehend the sudden, devastating diagnosis.

 

All doctors know the difficulty of imparting such life-altering news to patients. Muir says it is one part of his job that never gets easier. But with each case, he works to strike a balance, “You really have to be honest and upfront, conveying the severity of the diagnosis but also letting the patient realize that with aggressive therapy, there can be a good outcome.” 

 

Muir practices oncology at the Jones Clinic in Memphis. He joined the three-doctor group in June 2009 after having his own practice for 15 years. He came for his patients’ sake; since the group provides more support for those he treats. “Dr. Jones is also research-oriented,” added Muir. “So we’re involved with clinical trials which means more options for treatment for patients.”

 

Muir’s blend of compassion and knowledge has earned him a reputation as one of Memphis’ go-to oncologists. His demeanor quickly puts people at ease. And as the relationship grows, his patients learn they’re with someone who will go the distance with them. Because some cancers involve years of treatment, oncologists frequently develop strong bonds with their patients, getting to know family members and coming to understand the toll a chronic illness takes on a family. Cancer doesn’t just demand medical treatment, it requires active listening, helping patients talk through their fears, and weigh the choices they face as they consider how to manage their illness and life.

 

 

 

At times, Muir has gone “way beyond what a typical doctor would do,” said Mike Miller. He recalled how Muir once made a house call when Mike was too ill to drive. He also helped them make decisions about their future. As his treatment continued, Muir recommended Mike undergo a stem cell transplant. But since that procedure often includes spinal irradiation, the risk of sterility is high. Muir recommended the couple bank some of Mike’s sperm before the transplant, something April said would not have occurred to them. They had one child naturally, but eventually gave birth to twin girls through in vitro fertilization. Since the transplant, Mike has been cancer-free for six years.

 

“Everything we did was on Dr. Muir’s recommendation,” said April Miller. Added Mike, “He’s more than our doctor, he’s become a close friend.” 

 

During his 20-year career, Muir has seen the most dramatic improvement in cancer drugs. Today’s pharmaceuticals are more targeted, he said, which enables oncologists to treat particular types of cancer. This, in turn, has helped to improve treatment response in patients. “There are now more options, fewer side effects, and the response to therapies is better,” said Muir. In addition, anti-nausea medications have made chemotherapy and radiation easier to manage as well.

 

When Muir needs a break from the rigors of patient care, he spends time outdoors, hunting deer and turkey on his brother’s place in Jackson, Tennessee, skiing in Canada, or collecting folk art pottery. Several examples of work by the McCartys of Merigold, Mississippi, add earthy color to his office and provide a link to his boyhood home in Mississippi.

 

Muir was reared in Cleveland, Mississippi, a railroad town in the heart of the Delta. When he was 10, a badly fractured arm sent him to the hospital. It was the unexpected kindness of his doctor, who made a point to come and see the boy during his weekend stay at the hospital, which left an indelible impression on Muir and served to ignite his passion for medicine.

 

Muir graduated from Delta State University and received his medical degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Baptist, before entering an oncology practice.

 

As for his chosen subspecialty, he acknowledges the fear people have about the diagnosis of cancer. Though they often think of it as a death sentence, Muir’s experience tells him otherwise. “Most malignancies are very treatable and can have good outcomes.” If you doubt his word, just ask the Millers.