I beat cancer twice.
My cancerous right kidney was removed in April, 1996.
I had a mastectomy as a result of breast cancer seven and a half years later.
The first time this came about was as we finally reached our goal: our retirement. We had lived in the country near Boelus for 18 years and decided it was time to retire to the city good life. Our acreage was up for sale, so we put a down payment on a home in Grand Island in an area that would suit our purpose just fine.
While we were selling our home in the country and buying one in Grand Island, we also planned on spending some winters in Florida.
Just six weeks before we were to move, I had to go to the emergency room because I was in terrible pain. I thought I was having a heart attack.
It was 5 a.m. when we arrived at the ER, where the doctor told me I had something on my kidney and had to be admitted to the hospital. After more testing throughout the day, Dr. Husen told me that my kidney had to be removed — and so it was.
After surgery, Dr. Husen said “I have bad news and good news. The bad news is, it was cancer and the good news is that they got it all.”
Of course I felt as though I had been saved. After a few days, I went home. My friend from Davenport, Iowa, called and said she would be here tomorrow and take care of me for one week. I did not argue. I was grateful for her help and friendship.
Later my husband and I had an appointment with Dr. Copur. When we arrived at the Cancer Center, we had to go through a heavy metal door. As the door closed behind us with a loud clank, I had a feeling of impending doom and grabbed my husband’s hand.
Our session with Dr. Copur was not very long. I told him that I did not want chemo and he said that was OK. He took out a thick book that listed statistics about life expectancy with kidney cancer. I can’t remember what they were. I just recall I was glad to be alive. That was 12 years ago.
Even though I did not have chemo or radiation, cancer was a black cloud hanging over our heads.
Six weeks after my surgery, we did move to Grand Island. Thankfully, friends and relatives helped with the move. I could not do much lifting, so I became the traffic and packing controller.
We did get to Florida that winter of 1996. Florida was a good place for me to recuperate as I did a lot of swimming when the sun went down.
September of 1996 I had a mammogram and there was something not right. So I had a biopsy and results were cancerous. Now, my decision was, should I have a lumpectomy or mastectomy.
I chose mastectomy. I did have chemo (12 times). I was in the hospital 4 times because of side effects. Twice for my heart, once for lungs and then for blood clot in the leg. I chose not to have radiation because of the closeness to my heart.
This was not a fun time for me. My GISH 50th class reunion was on the 20th and I didn’t go. However, I had a lot of phone calls and visits from my class mates that weekend. They gave me the lift I needed and I’ll always be thankful for them.
In 2003, I was tired all the time. That August my husband and I were in the Senior Olympics in Kearney. I was so tired that I had to forfeit my last game in billiards. My yearly mammogram was due at this time.
Cancer reared its ugly head again.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer, so I had to make a decision — whether to have a lumpectomy or mastectomy. Before I told Dr. Schneider of my decision to have a mastectomy, I looked him in the eye and said, “If I was your mother, what would you tell me?”
He said “Have the mastectomy.”
Now, I had another decision to make. My 50th GISH class reunion was coming up. Should I have the surgery before or after the reunion? I didn’t want to wait so I had the mastectomy before the class reunion.
When my friends called and said they were in town at the motel, I told them I couldn’t go to the reunion. They came right over and we had a fun visit. I received a lot of phone calls from classmates and my visitors’’ cars lined the street. To this day, I still get calls and even little gifts from well wishers.
You know what? You can’t live without friends! They sure kept up my spirits. Now, I return the gesture of sending letters and small gifts to my friends who have cancer. I want to lift them up as I was lifted.
With the breast cancer I had to take chemo. I was in a clinical study of 12 episodes of chemo over a 12 week period. I will take Arimidex every day until March of 2009.
So I went back to the Cancer Center. It was not the same center as it was in April 1996. Now it is patient friendly. The big heavy door is gone. I was in the hospital four times because of the chemo’s side affects: twice for heart problems, once for lung problems and once for blood clots in my leg.
I was never sick to my stomach with chemo, but I was drained of energy. It was a chore just to stand. I lost my hair and wore a wig when I had company. I was too weak to go anywhere, so we canceled our winter trip to Florida.
The next year we did take our took our trip to Florida but that was our last one. I made teddy bears for the children at the hospital in Lakeland, Fla.
My energy level is still low, but I keep busy with making teddy bears for Nebraska football memorabilia. Because of nurses, doctors and cancer research, I am still here.
I beat cancer twice.
UPDATE MARCH 1, 2009:
Janet has survived both kidney cancer and breast cancer, seven years apart.
Now five years cancer-free, Janet is happy she no longer needs to take anything but is considering being part of a study on avoiding the return of breast cancer. It would require more pills. “I did get some response from my story. People said they were glad I told it. I have enjoyed reading everybody’s.”
Tags: Janet Worth
