Adenoid cystic carcinoma treatment at MD Anderson saved my eyesight

Michael Morin spent long days reading and looking at the computer screen while he studied for the Bar Exam and completed law school. So, when he noticed his right eye bothering him, he did not think anything of it and pushed forward.

“My brother noticed that my right eye was bulging out slightly,” recalls Michael. “I promised I would get it checked out as soon as I took the bar exam.”

He saw an ophthalmologist at a local eye surgery center near his home in Austin, Texas. A CT scan showed a mass behind his right eye.

On Sept. 15, 2023, the mass was removed, but the pathology results indicated signs of cancer. His doctor suggested he get checked out at MD Anderson.

An eye cancer diagnosis

During Michael’s first visit to MD Anderson a few weeks after surgery, he met with head and neck surgeon Ehab Hanna, M.D., and underwent additional testing, including an MRI. Michael was diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lacrimal gland in his right eye.

Hanna and his team referred Michael to Steven Frank, M.D., for proton therapy, along with head and neck medical oncologist Renata Ferrarotto, M.D., for chemotherapy. 

Adenoid cystic carcinoma treatment: chemotherapy and proton therapy

In January 2024, Michael started six rounds of weekly doses of Cisplatin, a type of chemotherapy treatment, along with concurrent daily proton therapy treatments. He stayed in Houston during the week and drove home to Austin on the weekends. “It helped to be near my friends and family a lot of the time,” Michael says.

“Dr. Frank and his nurse practitioner, Ian Moore, along with my radiation therapists, were amazing,” he recalls. “They made sure the proton beam was exact so that I would have minimal damage to my right eye and no radiation affecting my left side.”

Proton therapy is well-suited for patients with complicated head and neck tumors since it precisely paints the protons onto the tumor layer by layer. The treatment team can limit the tumor-damaging energy to target areas and protect healthy structures, such as the oral cavity and brainstem. This helps limit side effects for patients like Michael.

Michael happened to be the first head and neck patient to be treated at MD Anderson’s new Proton Therapy Center.

“The new Proton Therapy Center 2 (PTC2) is a state-of-the-art facility,” says Michael. “And I can’t say enough about the staff and therapists that kept me comfortable.”

Managing side effects during treatment

Michael’s care team worked together and paid attention to every detail. He had redness on the skin around his right eye, like a sunburn from the radiation, but his care team helped manage this by giving him a cooling gel to apply to the affected area.

Michael also remembers having fatigue and decreased appetite as a result of the chemotherapy. “What helped the most during chemotherapy was taking nausea medication ahead of the discomfort,” says Michael. “Then I was able to eat my normal diet.”

Michael worked remotely in the afternoons throughout his treatment to keep his mind occupied and help pass the time.

Advice for others facing cancer treatment

After completing cancer treatment this past March, Michael offers this advice to other patients.

Reach out to friends and family.

“Let others know if you need support,” he says. “This is not an easy thing to do, but well worth it in the end.”

Communicate your needs to your care team.

“MD Anderson moves with urgency to get you the best treatment possible,” he adds.

Dress comfortably for treatment.

“Bring a sweater and headphones to listen to while you are waiting for treatment," says Michael.

Relax and remember to breathe.

“I would mediate before each treatment. It helped to know that that everyone at MD Anderson is there to help and that got me through it,” he says.

Michael is now back focusing on his law career. “As long as I keep my eye lubricated, my vision has improved,” he says. “I really value my time now with my friends and family. Cancer treatment changed my perspective on life.”

Request an appointment at MD Anderson online or call 1-877-632-6789.