OAPD10

10. This We Know for Sure

Wednesday, July 4, 2001
4:55 pm

"Miss Whitley?" Dr. Timmons beckoned to her from the doorway.
She answered, "Yes, Dr. Timmons?"
"Well, we've gotten the results back from your blood test as well as the biopsy of your ovaries."
"Okay, well, go ahead."
The middle-aged doctor swallowed and sat down on the end of her bed. "This won�t be easy."
Meg tried to contain the lump in her throat. "Please, just get it over with." I fear the worst.
He sighed. "It�s not good."
She nodded.
"The three growths in your epithelial ovaries are cancerous." He stopped, probably to let it soak in. "There are treatments for this type of cancer but out of the estimated 23,400 cases of ovarian cancer this year, about 13,900 women will die of it. Fortunately, we caught it early, so you'll receive chemotherapy or radiation to treat the cancer, plus we'll remove one or both of your ovaries. The good news is that since we discovered this early, you have a high chance of surviving it. You're among 95% of the women who caught it early and will live at least five years after you enter into remission."
Meg nodded. She didn't cry. "So I guess I get to go to Hollywood now, huh?"
"Yes. Dr. Harless will take good care of you. I refer all my patients with ovarian cancer to him. He's been well-schooled and is one of the nicest men I've ever been privileged to know."
She swallowed. "That doesn't help. I have five years to live."
"You'll live at least five more years. That's a good chance, Meg, trust me. If you want, we have counselors you can talk to about this."
"No, I'm alright. I need to call some people, though."
"Okay. Just know that there are people here to talk to you." He smiled meekly. "We'll send you to Hollywood on Saturday so you can take care of anything here you need to get done. I understand you have a friend in the Pediatric wing."
"Yeah," she said. "Jill." How am I going to tell her?
How am I going to tell Chad?
He smiled. "I talked to Dionna a few minutes ago. She said meeting you put a smile on her face she hadn't seen in months."
Meg smiled. "I was glad to do it. What a sweet kid."
"She's a doll. Well, feel free to ask any questions when you feel ready to." He smiled and walked out of the room.
Cancer.
I have cancer.
Well, ain't this just grand? Looks like my career is over.
Meg swallowed. She felt nauseous. I can't tell Chad. Not until the tour is over. They'll be here Friday night and the tour ends the next Monday. I'll tell them then.
I guess I have to tell Rob first.
She picked up the phone, but put it down as a soon as she realized her hands were shaking.
I have cancer and I could die.
I could die...
I'm 19 years old! I can't die! I just got started on my career, I'm not married, I haven't had kids...I'm too young to die! She felt her heart almost leaping out of her chest as her breath became short. She choked back a tear, beads of sweat formed on her forehead and she suddenly felt nauseous. She ignored it and picked up the phone again.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
Maybe he's not there.
Ring.
Wait, Rob always has his cell phone on.
Ri- "Rob here."
"Geez, Rob, it took you long enough."
"Meg! Hi! How the heck are you?"
She paused, "Are you alone?"
"Yeah. I'm just setting up the press conference for when you get out of there to clear everything up."
"Rob, I have to go to Hollywood."
"Hollywood? What's in Hollywood?"
"Dr. Harless' clinic for ovarian cancer," she whispered, holding back tears.
Rob was silent. "My God..." he whispered. "I...I don't know what��
"Don't say anything, Rob. There's nothing you can say to take it away. I leave for California on Saturday after y'all leave, so it looks like Mandy's gonna get her longer set."
Rob swallowed. He didn't say a word.
"God, Rob, this isn't supposed to happen to me. I'm 19 years old...I'm supposed to worry about what college I'm going to or what I'm going to do with my life. I've got a career, fame, a top ten record and a tour bus with my name on it...I can't have this right now, not now that everything is going right for once."
"Listen, Meg, you'll get through this...I know you, you're strong."
"Yeah, but...this is such an inconvenience. I'm not going to feel sorry for myself, but I just don't want to lose my career."
"You won't lose it...you won't have treatment all the time, so we can release another single as soon as the fire dies down for 'Here I Am'. We can shoot the video in California, too."
"I'm just afraid people will forget about me..."
"They won't, Meg, you just got started. They'll be there for you, though you won't do a lot of performing."
"Great."
"Well, Meg, soon enough you'll be back on your feet with this whole cancer thing behind you. Don't worry, girl. I won't give up on you and neither will Chad or Paul or Kev or Gabe or Seth."
Probably cause they won't have a job without me. "Thanks."
"Do you wanna be the one to tell Chad or do you want me to?"
"No! You can't tell Chad, Rob!"
"What?"
"Please, don't tell any of the guys yet, ok? In fact, I want this to be just between you and me until Friday."
He sighed, "Meg, I don't know if--"
"Please, Rob, do this for me."
He paused. "Okay, whatever, even though it's against my judgment."
"Thank you."
"Yeah, no problem. It's just--this hurts me as much as it hurts you, Meg."
"That's sweet."
"It's true! I'll see you in three days, unless you need to talk. Or are you gonna call your folks?"
"I don't think I'm going to."
"You called me before your parents?"
"It's three am in New York. Plus, my parents could care less. They don't return my calls."
"Want me to tell 'em?"
"Yeah, go ahead. They might listen to you. Call Adam, too."
"Maybe. I'll be thinking about you, Meg." He paused. "You...you know I will."
"Aw, Rob, don't get all emotional on me. This is my problem, not yours."
"I care about you, Meg. You're like a sister to me and it hurts me to know you're going through this."
"Don't worry 'bout me, dude. It's just...cancer."
She could tell he was now crying. "Meg...I have to worry about you. I'm used to seeing you everyday and the thought of never seeing you again terrifies me."
"Please don't be morbid, Rob. I need you to be there for me, and that includes helping me with my career. Let's not think about this right now."
He sighed, "Okay," his voice shaking.
"I'll see you Friday, okay?"
"Alright. Call me, Meg."
"Yep. Bye, Rob."
"Bye."
She hung up, hoping Rob would keep his promise.