Michael Joyce, MD
Weddings are always joyful, but some hold a very special meaning for Michael Joyce, M.D. The Nemours oncologist is sometimes invited to the nuptials of his former patients— brides or grooms he treated for leukemia or cancer years before. “Knowing that they have had a chance to go on and live their lives makes what I do very worthwhile,” he says.
Approximately 85 new cancer patients are seen each year at the Nemours Children’s Clinic in Jacksonville. The most common diagnoses are acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) or brain tumors. “Years ago, leukemia was a death sentence for children,” says Dr. Joyce. “Now we can cure nearly 80% of the cases we see. When we have that initial conversation with parents after the diagnosis, we are able to offer lots of hope. Today we have more options, like bone marrow transplantation, and the supportive care is better.”
Dr. Joyce grew up in Chicago, IL. He earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry at St. Louis University in Missouri and went on to medical school there. “I had an early interest in genetics and molecular biology,” he remembers. “Oncology attracted me because it was a specialty where you could actually cure people.”
Dr. Joyce joined Nemours in 1990. “It was the right job for me. I thought they had a real mission to serve kids,” he comments. “The people in our unit are incredibly dedicated. Our physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists, allied health professionals, and our Child Life program—all of these people make a huge positive contribution to our treatment of children with cancer.”
“The families of these kids are very motivating to all of us,” says Dr. Joyce. “We see tremendous love and sacrifice. Family members truly bond with and support each other. It makes us want to do even more for their children.”
Dr. Joyce sees a future filled with promise for the treatment of childhood cancers. “We are beginning to use cancer drugs that work on the molecular level by inhibiting the production of enzymes called kinases, which tell cells to keep dividing instead of dying off as they would in a normal growth cycle. Tumor vaccines, another new therapy, help the body’s own immune system to fight off cancers. “I believe we will also see the advent of treatments that are individually designed for each patient,” he says. “There isn’t one of us working in oncology that wouldn’t like to be put out of business, so to speak, by being able to actually prevent cancer,” Dr. Joyce laughs. “Then we can sit around and talk about the good old days where we were using chemo and radiation to cure cancer. Remember, that’s what happened with polio and measles—they are now in the distant past.”
In the meantime, Dr. Joyce and his team will continue providing compassionate, expert care for each child and family—giving most the opportunity to grow up and perhaps celebrate a happy wedding day.
