UTRGV lecturer battles cancer

Marcolfa “Marcy” McQuillen, a lecturer in the UTRGV Communication Department, wife and mother of three, did not allow her fight against cancer to interfere with her passion for teaching.

McQuillen graduated from legacy institution University of Texas-Pan American with a bachelor’s degree in speech-communication in 1999, and a master’s degree in speech communication in 2001. 

She began her career as a high school teacher in August 2000 in the Donna Independent School District. Four years later, she entered postsecondary education at UTPA, teaching a learning framework course for freshmen. Although she cherished helping students with the transition from high school to college, she returned to her calling. In 2017, she began to work for the Communication Department, teaching public speaking.

“Communication and leadership have always been my second and first love,” McQuillen said.

In the summer of 2017, McQuillen was recovering from surgery she underwent in May for gallbladder and pancreatic complications, but she felt that wasn’t the end of it.

“I had a hard time getting someone, or one of the doctors, to listen to me because they thought it was just recovery,” McQuillen said. “But my gut told me it was something more.”

While teaching classes in October 2017, she was in disbelief when she was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer.

“I didn’t freak out; it was just hard to believe,” McQuillen said about her reactions to the diagnosis. “I was 41, and I was
thinking, ‘Really?’” 

Shortly after being diagnosed, McQuillen began to visit the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Road trips would become part of her and her husband Jeffrey McQuillen’s routine for the next couple of years.

Always keeping the best interest of her students in mind, and with the Fall 2017 classes close to ending, she thought it wouldn’t be fair to them if she were to pass on her course to someone else.

And so, she finished the semester, then underwent surgery before the year ended.

Communication Department Interim Chair Jennifer Lemanski, who was the associate chair at the time, “wanted her to be healthy over anything else.” Lemanski wasn’t surprised that McQuillen wanted to continue teaching and had “full confidence” that she could manage her time.

“She always strives to do the right thing and is a great person to know and to work with,” Lemanski said about McQuillen.

Jeffrey McQuillen, a communication associate professor, encouraged her to continue working.

In an interview with The Rider, McQuillen described his wife as “enthusiastic, dedicated [and] energetic.”

Marcy McQuillen said she was lucky to have the surgery in early December 2017, so she had a month to recover before classes began. She had a successful surgery in which doctors said they were able to remove most of the cancer, but they didn’t want to leave any room for error.

They recommended that she receive chemotherapy every other week at MD Anderson for the next six months.

“It was tough, but we did it. We got through it,” Marcy McQuillen said proudly.

In Summer 2018, McQuillen successfully finished her chemotherapy sessions, and travels monthly to MD Anderson for follow-up tests.

The thriving lecturer believes continuing to practice her calling, the drive to help students and making sure their education wasn’t affected by her situation, made the process a lot easier.

“I thought, ‘Let me see if I can get through,’ and they were very, very helpful as far as the chair of the department and faculty here,” McQuillen said.

While receiving treatment at MD Anderson, McQuillen said she expected to have a similar recovery experience as to what is shown on TV.

“A lot of people walk in without a wheelchair. They are not totally depressed. It was a cheery place,” she said, about the hospital. “It helped to keep the mood up. It helped people focus on what they were doing but also that [cancer is] not something you can’t handle.”

The cancer survivor said she wouldn’t have been able to juggle all of her responsibilities if it weren’t for the help and support of her husband, family, friends and co-workers.

“I’m quite the proud person,” McQuillen said, explaining that once she received the support from the people surrounding her, the last two years seemed to go by calmer.

She recommends that anyone dealing with cancer find supportive people who are willing to attend overwhelming doctor appointments with them.

Finding a hobby to add to a daily routine, such as reading a book, watching a TV series or working, can be helpful.

Lastly, she encourages patients to talk to people who have gone or are going through similar situations, as the sensitive topics might be difficult for family and friends to bear.

Being strong, proud and somebody who never gives up, she shared her situation only with the people it would immediately affect.

McQuillen hopes that by making her story public, she will help anyone in the community who is dealing with a similar situation and remind them they aren’t alone.

With tears welling in her eyes, McQuillen said she would like to thank her family, co-workers and students “for everything.”