It was a persistent cough that never seemed to go away – which made a church trip to the Holy Land a bit more trying for Trinity United Methodist Senior Pastor Rev. Brian Erickson in February of 2016.
As the visit progressed, so did Erickson’s cough. His general practitioner, a member of the congregation and a UAB physician, mentioned it might be a good idea to make an appointment when they arrived back home.
Former Patients Ragan Cain & Rev. Brian Erickson with Dr. Herbert ChenA Surprise Diagnosis and “Pastoring the Pastor”
A few flights and days later, he found himself getting a quick chest X-ray to rule out pneumonia or any major sources of inflammation. In a fortuitous angle of imaging, the scan happened to capture Erickson’s lungs, esophagus, and lower throat. While unrelated to his cough, a large mass on his thyroid created a new, and far more significant, concern.
After a quickly scheduled biopsy, the results reflected what Erickson and his family feared – cancer. “For a few days, we were in limbo not knowing if this was a more treatable diagnosis or something much more serious than what we had initially anticipated,” he shared. “As someone whose work involves regularly being around cancer patients, I had hoped that I would be more prepared than I was, but it turns out, when it happens to you, there’s no way to be ready.”
Amid the whirlwind search for answers, Erickson approached his busiest season in the church’s calendar – Holy Week and Easter. He found himself searching for the peace and reverence that normally surrounded him during the season. In the midst of this tumultuous time, Brian was referred to the clinic of the newly appointed UAB Surgeon-in-Chief and endocrine surgeon Herbert Chen, M.D.
“From our first meeting, as we reviewed my case and symptoms, I felt like Dr. Chen was pastoring the pastor,” reflected Erickson. “When you’re around serious diagnoses all the time like Dr. Chen is, I can imagine that it’s easy to desensitize a bit, to forget what it’s like for the patient for whom this is all new and frightening. I never felt that way with Dr. Chen – from that first visit, it was so clear to me that my questions and concerns mattered, and that I was in the best possible hands. I knew what a busy man he was, but I he made me feel like I was his only patient.”
And, together, in the patient visit room, Dr. Chen and Erickson created a care plan to remove what was then diagnosed as papillary thyroid cancer – a typically slow-growing, highly-treatable prognosis that usually impacts men around the ages 30-50.
Erickson underwent a lobectomy to remove the cancerous nodule and the part of the thyroid surrounding it. After a short recovery, he was back to doing what he loved – connecting with the community and fulfilling his own pastoral duties.
As he reminisces on his healthcare journey, Erickson continues to count his blessings for the care he received.
“I count myself so fortunate to live in a community with the resources of UAB, and caregivers like Dr. Chen. Cancer is so frightening, but when you know you have one of the foremost endocrine surgeons in the world on your team, it’s a lot less scary. If not for UAB and the kind of medical and research professionals they bring to Birmingham, this level of care would not have been possible for me or my family,” Erickson says.
Looking Forward in Faith and Gratitude
Almost ten years later, Rev. Erickson is thriving as he once again prepares for the Easter season and continues to give thanks for the care he received through UAB Surgery.
“Our area is so fortunate to have a world-class hospital like UAB right at our doorstep,” Erickson adds. “The talented academic physicians, surgeon scientists, and researchers we have in our area are forging the future of healthcare as we know it. It’s up to us ensure we continue to support their work, because you never know when you or someone you love is going to need it.”
About the Ragan D. Cain Endowed Scholar Fund
Several grateful patients, families, and community members have come together to launch an initiative to establish the Ragan D. Cain Endowed Scholar Fund in support of the vital work being done by the UAB Section of Endocrine Surgery. Read more about Ragan's journey as a UAB patient here.
To invest in this important work that is transforming lives in our community and improve research and care surrounding thyroid cancer here, please visit UAB’s website.
If you or someone you love has been impacted by their lifechanging care at UAB, we encourage you to share your story. For more information about the generous initiative and additional ways you can make an impact, please contact