Monday, July 29, 2013
Although we camped this weekend with evenings dropping down into the 50's and tubed on the lake at the blistering temp of 70 degrees, it still seems appropriate to spend some time talking about the sun and it's link to skin cancers.
I have invited my friend Deb to be a guest writer on "Journeys" and share her cancer story with you. Her journey began about the same time as mine so we have shared a lot over the past 18 months. Deb spoke at our Benton County Relay for Life and following is what she had to say about her cancer experience. Please read her story and then pick up the phone and schedule your full body exam with a dermatologist. You don't have to have a family history or even extensive exposure to the sun to fall victim to a wide variety of skin cancers.
Thank you Deb for agreeing to be a guest on my blog. Your story is very inspiring and your strength and courage so uplifting. Thanks so much for sharing!
My Cancer Journey
Deb Wallpe
My cancer journey started with a mole
on my left thigh. It had been there for
as long as I can remember. I kept an eye
on the mole over the years because of an awareness of the ABCDE’s of skin
cancer.
·
A
is for asymmetry. If one half is
different from the other half, this is a concern.
·
B
is for border. Borders should not be
irregular, scalloped or poorly defined.
·
C
is for color. Moles that have different
shades of tan, brown or black, or appear red or blue are a concern.
·
D
is for diameter. If a mole is the size
of a pencil eraser or larger, you should have it checked.
·
E
is for evolving. You should always have
a doctor look at moles that appear to be changing in size, shape or color.
Because my mole appeared to be growing
taller, I consulted my doctor who advised that it needed to be removed. I was diagnosed with melanoma in April of
2012. Melanoma is the most serious form
of skin cancer. When found early,
Melanoma is almost 100% curable. When
found later, it can metastasize to other organs and become more serious. I quickly met with a dermatologist for a full
body check to see if I had any other areas of concern. Luckily, I did not; but, the dermatologist
was concerned about the size and characteristics of my tumor. I was referred to a melanoma
specialist/surgeon in Indianapolis for removal of more tissue around the
original tumor and removal/biopsy of the lymph node that the tumor drained
into. No cancer was found in the tissue
around the tumor, but a small amount of cancer cells were found in the lymph
node. The next step was another surgery
to remove all the lymph nodes in my left groin for biopsy. Thankfully, no cancer was found in the
remaining lymph nodes. Because cancer
cells were found in the sentinel lymph node, my cancer was labeled as stage
III. As a result of both surgeries, I
was considered to be in remission.
After recovering from the second
surgery seven weeks later, I began seeing a physical therapist and an
oncologist. Having all of the lymph
nodes removed left my leg subject to swelling and more susceptible to
infection. The physical therapist taught
me how to massage my leg and lymph nodes to help my body move the lymph fluid
through a different path. She also
showed me how to wrap my leg to keep swelling down by pushing fluid upward, and
trouble signs to watch for. After two
months of physical therapy, I was measured for a compression garment, which I
wear everyday. Swelling is likely
something I will have to deal with for a long time.
Because my melanoma was stage III, my
oncologist recommended that I start weekly injections of interferon to help
build up my immune system and keep cancer cells at bay. When interferon first began being used to
treat melanoma, patients were admitted to the hospital and put in a semi-coma
to make the patient more comfortable due to the severe side effects. In recent years, the processing of interferon
has changed and now patients can receive a weekly injection. I received my first three injections in
August at the highest recommended dosage along with a dozen ‘just in case’
medications to help with the side effects.
Those three weeks were the most difficult in my journey thus far. Side effects included severe headaches, loss
of appetite, severe body aches, fatigue, the rigors, and thinning hair. There were days when my body hurt so bad that
I didn’t want to move from the bed to the couch. Due to my severe side effects, my oncologist
gave me a “two-week vacation” from the interferon to allow my body to get back
to normal. When the injections started
again in September, the dosage was cut in half.
I was able to handle the side effects at this lower dosage much better,
and was able to return to work. For four
months, I received my weekly injections in the doctor’s office. In January of this year, I began giving
myself the injections at home. This was
a huge step forward for me, because I wasn’t sure I could give myself an injection. The injections have become a routine part of
my week. The plan is to continue weekly
injections for five years.
Cancer has taught me that I have a
lot to be thankful for. My friends,
family, co-workers, and members of my church have been very kind and supportive
over the past year. I deeply appreciate
the knowledge, skills, and compassion of all healthcare professionals I have
met. I am very lucky to work for an
employer with good benefits and insurance.
I attend the Benton County Cancer
Support Group meetings each month, and the survivorship meetings held by the
Lafayette Cancer Care team. These
meetings have provided me with information on diet and nutrition, physical
exercise, management of side effects, and much more. The Benton County Support group meets the
last Monday of each month at 7pm at the Otterbein United Methodist Church. We would love to have any survivors or
caregivers attend.
In closing, I would like to leave you
with some advice:
1. Always use broad spectrum sunscreen
with at least SPF 30 when in the sun,
2. Wear protective clothing: long-sleeved shirts, pants, wide-brimmed
hats, and sunglasses,
3. Avoid the mid-day sun and tanning
beds.
4. Be aware of moles and the
ABCDE’s. If you have a mole or other
spot that you’re concerned about, have it checked out. Don’t procrastinate.
Thank you for listening to me ramble! I wish you all good health.
