To say his family is rooted in Natchez, Mississippi would be an understatement. For McNair “Mac” Metcalfe and six generations of his family before him, Natchez courses through his veins much like muddy water flows through the mighty Mississippi River. His family has lived in this community for over 200 years, since at least 1810. In fact, they have all lived in the same family home on the bluff overlooking the river.
Just ask Mac – he’ll tell you that Natchez is simply where he belongs.
So, in 2024 when he found a lump on his neck that he feared might be cancerous, he worried about the possibility of having to get treatment far away and far from the comfort of his home.
But, as a self-described independent person, Mac didn’t make too much of a fuss about the lump. He found different ways to self-treat and do his best to manage any pain. Then, one night he couldn’t breathe. He went to the emergency room and was intubated. From there, he was transferred to the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in Jackson, where doctors placed a tracheostomy and performed a biopsy. The diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma of the throat.
He immediately underwent chemotherapy at UMMC. Mac visited the hospital once a week for seven weeks for his chemotherapy treatment. The hospital was a two-hour drive each way from his home in Natchez. Being self-insured made paying for these expenses challenging. Travel meant paying for gas, reserving hotel rooms, eating out and other expenses. It also meant getting treated away from home.
When it came time for him to schedule radiation treatment (which would now be five days a week), he knew traveling back and forth wouldn’t be sustainable. He had to find another option.
Mac remembered hearing about Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Natchez. He figured he would walk in and see what they had to offer. This is when everything changed.
“From the moment I walked through the door, I was surrounded by some of the nicest and most caring people I had ever met,” Mac said. “They took time to talk to me. They explained to me what my treatment options were. You see, to them, I wasn’t just a number on a spreadsheet.”
Gregory Cotter, MD, radiation oncologist and other members of his care team sprang into action. Mac talks about each one of them proudly like they’re members of his own extended family.
Five days each week, for seven weeks straight, Mac drove to Mary Bird Perkins for radiation. Each session lasted about 30 minutes and each night he was able to sleep in his own bed.
Being close to home became even more important as the treatment became more challenging.
As part of the treatment regimen, patients wear a custom mask bolted to the table. The mask fits tightly so that the patient stays perfectly still. Mac was prescribed anti-anxiety medication to make him more comfortable and relaxed throughout each radiation session.
“That process can be scary,” he said. “But everyone at the Cancer Center was so gracious and did their very best to make me feel comfortable.”
After seven weeks, Mac completed treatment and is awaiting the results of his next scan. His care team is optimistic, and so is he.
In the meantime, he is at home in Natchez enjoying spending time with his wife, family and friends. He is grateful for the compassionate care he received at Mary Bird Perkins. Most of all, he’s proud that his beloved Natchez has access to convenient high-quality cancer care so that the community can continue to thrive long into the future.
For more information about Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Natchez, visit marybird.org.
