My husband and I have been blessed with the ability and time to go on many travels since I retired. We have visited Hawaii, many islands in the Caribbean and many countries in Europe, the Greek Isles, China, and Southeast Asia – from Hong Kong to Singapore. Little did I dream that the last two and half years a different kind of journey would be in store for me.
I was diagnosed with Stage Four pancreatic cancer in March, 2010. Several tests were run and finally with a second biopsy it was determined that I had an inoperable adenocarcinoma tumor which was wrapped around the vein from my pancreas to the liver. It was blocking the enzymes necessary for digestion. The doctor at M. D. Anderson’s Gastrointestinal Center was Dr. Milind Javle. He is quiet spoken but very positive and confident in his ability to help me. I have noticed over time how this doctor from India with a family is so devoted to his work.
Dr. Javle and his team explained a protocol that would be the best treatment for my cancer. It would be five weeks of chemotherapy infusions of Gemcitabine and Cisplatin once every two weeks for a total of five infusions. That would be followed by radiation treatments along with Xeloda pills that were taken 2 at a time both morning and evening.
I was diagnosed with Stage Four pancreatic cancer in March, 2010. Several tests were run and finally with a second biopsy it was determined that I had an inoperable adenocarcinoma tumor which was wrapped around the vein from my pancreas to the liver. It was blocking the enzymes necessary for digestion. The doctor at M. D. Anderson’s Gastrointestinal Center was Dr. Milind Javle. He is quiet spoken but very positive and confident in his ability to help me. I have noticed over time how this doctor from India with a family is so devoted to his work.
Dr. Javle and his team explained a protocol that would be the best treatment for my cancer. It would be five weeks of chemotherapy infusions of Gemcitabine and Cisplatin once every two weeks for a total of five infusions. That would be followed by radiation treatments along with Xeloda pills that were taken 2 at a time both morning and evening.
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| Dr. Javle and me |
The news spread through emails to friends and church members. I was included in many prayer lists for the next several months. It was a shock to all of us. Finally I knew why I was in so much pain and how it was to be treated. A pain patch was prescribed for me which I could change every three days. The infusions were started and even though the protocol always included medicine for nausea, the chemos began to affect my appetite anyway. I had slight nausea, and was very tired. I lost about ten pounds which was a lot when you consider that I weighed 105 before the cancer treatment. After the five weeks of chemotherapy using infusions, Dr. Javle set up radiation treatments for me. I was to have radiation every weekday for five weeks and with a chemo pill called Xeloda. I was very apprehensive about the radiation because of the location of the tumor. The pancreas is almost completely hidden behind the stomach and is very hard to radiate because of its location. The radiation team had to fit a saddle (they actually had to make two saddles for me.) I was to lie on these saddles on a gurney for each radiation treatment. It was very complicated to learn how to breathe in order to keep my pancreas in the exact location for the radiation to do its work.
The radiation team led by Dr. Crane was fantastic. He saw me each weekday that I had radiation. His assistant always explained what the procedure would be each day. When the team was having trouble fitting the forms called saddles to my body exactly, there were four or five physicists to set them up correctly. When the first plan didn’t work they were there again to develop another plan. The team that actually radiated my pancreas also taught me how to breathe and hold my breath. With much encouragement from my family and my pastor, I was able to learn how to manage my breathing. It was so strange to have to use glasses that were linked to the computer. Wearing the glasses I learned to make the blue line and the yellow line come together and change color and stay on that changed color by the way I held my breath and opened my diaphragm to raise my stomach so that the radiation was only on the tumor and not the surrounding area. Nutritionists advised me on how to maintain my weight with liquid supplements and other foods for which I might be able to have an appetite. Somehow I got through the five weeks with few problems.
The radiation team led by Dr. Crane was fantastic. He saw me each weekday that I had radiation. His assistant always explained what the procedure would be each day. When the team was having trouble fitting the forms called saddles to my body exactly, there were four or five physicists to set them up correctly. When the first plan didn’t work they were there again to develop another plan. The team that actually radiated my pancreas also taught me how to breathe and hold my breath. With much encouragement from my family and my pastor, I was able to learn how to manage my breathing. It was so strange to have to use glasses that were linked to the computer. Wearing the glasses I learned to make the blue line and the yellow line come together and change color and stay on that changed color by the way I held my breath and opened my diaphragm to raise my stomach so that the radiation was only on the tumor and not the surrounding area. Nutritionists advised me on how to maintain my weight with liquid supplements and other foods for which I might be able to have an appetite. Somehow I got through the five weeks with few problems.
My son, Greg volunteered to take me every time I needed to go for treatment. He was so encouraging as was the rest of my family. Greg would patiently walk with me from one end of hospital to the other to encourage me to get some exercise. Fortunately, I never experienced any major side effects that would cause me to use a wheelchair, check in as a patient, or go to the emergency room during this treatment. I didn’t lose my hair either although it did start to thin.
The staff at M. D. Anderson are all so caring. The lab which takes each patient's blood sample is run with such efficiency and joy. Even though the waiting room is full, there is a routine that keeps everything moving and soon your name is called. Each of the technicians will greet you with a smile.
I can usually reach my doctor's Physician's Assistant, Jackie Weatherley whenever I need Dr. Javle's opinion about my condition and the meds I am taking. She quickly contacts Dr. Javle and soon I have a call from Jackie telling me his advice.
The staff at M. D. Anderson are all so caring. The lab which takes each patient's blood sample is run with such efficiency and joy. Even though the waiting room is full, there is a routine that keeps everything moving and soon your name is called. Each of the technicians will greet you with a smile.
I can usually reach my doctor's Physician's Assistant, Jackie Weatherley whenever I need Dr. Javle's opinion about my condition and the meds I am taking. She quickly contacts Dr. Javle and soon I have a call from Jackie telling me his advice.
Many of my friends and family sent flowers and cards. Many brought home-made soup and healthy egg custard for me. But best of all they came to visit and bring inspirational books of those who had lived through cancer with the Lord’s help. One of my church friends brought me a prayer shawl which I cherish. I always felt cold and it really warmed me waiting for my appointments.
I am a member of Memorial Lutheran Church, 5800 Westheimer in Houston. I missed going to church every Sunday and singing in choir, but I was just too weak to do it. It was only when I began to feel stronger after the chemo and radiation treatments that I felt like going to church again. It was onderful to worship in the Lord’s house, to sing the beloved Lutheran hymns, and take communion. Pastor Murray came to my home several times to give me communion, but I felt so blessed to be able to go to the communion rail on my own.
It was soon after I began to get my strength back that I began to write my books in earnest. It was a goal that I set for myself. It kept my mind busy with something else besides the cancer. Each day I would set some time aside for completing the books that I had begun in memoir writing class with Susan Wright at the Women's Institute starting in 2005. Now I have completed the two books and they are published. I can now share Jesus' saving grace with all that I meet during my presentations.
It was soon after I began to get my strength back that I began to write my books in earnest. It was a goal that I set for myself. It kept my mind busy with something else besides the cancer. Each day I would set some time aside for completing the books that I had begun in memoir writing class with Susan Wright at the Women's Institute starting in 2005. Now I have completed the two books and they are published. I can now share Jesus' saving grace with all that I meet during my presentations.
As my strength returned, I began attending prayer healing services at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church with a dear friend who lives in our high rise. It’s informal with a few hymns played on a CD player, a short meditation and lesson followed by praise reports. Then each of us may have individual healing prayers said over us by one of the prayer leaders some of whomare J. B. Mallay, Ellen Mallay, and Kathleen Scott. I’ve been attending Wednesdays since my strength returned. The prayer leaders taught me so much about the healing power of prayer. I now know my purpose in life is to spread the Gospel. Each time I make a presentation before a group, I mention my successful treatments and how the Lord’s grace has helped me face each day with a grateful heart. The journey still continues now in October of 2012 with follow-up chemotherapy to prevent the tumor from growing. I’ve not suffered many side effects since I began this second round of chemo which should last another two or three months. As you can see from the calendar of events, I‘m staying busy with book sales and presentations. We’re also planning a cruise to South America perhaps in December. As you can read, I consider myself a survivor of cancer with the Lord's help. And so the journey continues.
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