In this article
Eddie and Pearlie Saddler lived a fulfilling life in their South Carolina town, volunteering and participating in church service. One weekend, Eddie's throat started to hurt. When his boss noticed he looked unwell on Monday, Eddie went to see a doctor and was referred to a throat specialist. "I left the throat specialist's office and went straight to the hospital," Eddie said. "I didn't even go home." He was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia — a diagnosis that came on suddenly and forced the couple to make a difficult decision about where to seek treatment.
Eddie's local oncologist recommended MD Anderson Cancer Center. Pearlie, who worked in a medical center, knew who to consult for the most reliable guidance. "For me, the success rate is amazing," she said. Despite Eddie's family wanting him to stay close to home, Pearlie was focused on his survival. "We are going to MD Anderson Cancer Center," she told Eddie.
When Eddie arrived, he was very weak. His doctor, Hagop Kantarjian, explained that during treatment, a patient's white blood cell count drops significantly, leaving patients like Eddie highly vulnerable to infection. MD Anderson is one of the few hospitals equipped to provide the sterile environment required to protect patients in this critical state. Taking into account all available treatment options, Dr. Kantarjian and Eddie's medical team were able to formulate a personalized treatment plan specifically targeting his leukemia.
In May 1994, Pearlie was overjoyed to bring Eddie home. "I am very excited. Because of my treatment team, I know everything I need to know about taking care of him," she said. Before Eddie's diagnosis, the Saddlers had not given much thought to cancer. Today, they actively participate in fundraising activities through their church and community to help support other patients seeking treatment at MD Anderson. "They gave Eddie and me warm hospitality and careful treatment — I think God is with MD Anderson Cancer Center," Pearlie said.
How CancerFax Helps
CancerFax is a specialist cancer access and patient-navigation platform. We help patients and families understand their options, organise medical records, coordinate hospital communication, and support cross-border treatment planning where appropriate.
We help collect and organise reports, scans, pathology, biomarker results, and treatment history for structured case review.
We communicate with hospitals or trial teams to assess whether a case may be suitable for further screening.
We support appointment coordination, document submission, translation, and direct communication with international departments.
For international patients, we help with practical coordination — travel planning, hospital admission guidance, and local support.
If this option is not suitable, we help explore other relevant treatments, clinical trials, or advanced care pathways.
From inquiry through to follow-up, our coordinators provide a single point of contact for the family.
CancerFax does not guarantee treatment access, eligibility, or clinical outcome. Our role is to help patients access accurate information, structured review, and appropriate specialist pathways.
About Sai Sree
✓ Reviewed for medical accuracy by the CancerFax review panel.
Medical Disclaimer
This article is for educational purposes only and should not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified oncology specialist. Every patient's case is different. Treatment decisions should always be made after a review of complete medical records by the treating medical team.
Treatment availability, eligibility, timelines, and access can change. Any clinical trial participation depends on detailed review and approval by the trial hospital or investigator.