Vickey Clark
It has been almost 17 years since I discovered a cancerous lump in my left breast. My memory of the discovery and its resulting occurrences, however, is crystal clear. I had just lost a 44-year-old cousin to a two-year battle with breast cancer, so the trying days after my finding, subsequent surgery and 30-some radiation treatments were dominated by thoughts about whether I would be around for my then two-year-old daughter, Sarah.
Fortunately – thanks to a series of unique happenings that only God could have orchestrated – I insisted on a biopsy that resulted in a cancerous diagnosis just eight days after the discovery of my lump. That quick diagnosis is the key to my years of survival and I am so blessed that God allowed things to unfold like they did at that crucial time in my life. That period in my life also brought me a cherished friendship with Mercy Cancer Center Operations Manager Kay McHughs and taught me to stop and smell the roses, live life to the fullest and never take anything for granted. I now thank God daily for giving me another 24 hours of precious life.
Beth Cloud
As the nurse manager of the fourth-floor Oncology Unit at St. Joseph’s Mercy, I am accustomed to helping some of the nation’s best healthcare providers as we care for patients who are fighting battles with cancer. I have always considered it an honor and a privilege to serve alongside such compassionate caregivers, but until December of 2007 I had never really stopped to think about being on the receiving end of such expert care.
That’s when I discovered a lump in my left breast that quickly led to surgery, followed by four chemotherapy and 32 radiation treatments over the next six months. From Mercy Breast Center advance practice nurse navigator Pam Howlett, who comforted me as I sat in stunned silence after learning of my diagnosis, to Dr. John Webb, who was quick to perform a successful lumpectomy, our St. Joseph’s cancer team was there for me every step of the way. My prognosis is good and I have that incredible backing, combined with the support of my family and church, to thank for it. A number of very good people got me through the most difficult time of my life and I look forward, if need be, to returning the favor to someone else in need.
Dorinda Hampton
I am a registered nurse who has worked in the field of oncology for 15 years, the last 10 of those with Dr. P.K. Reddy in his St. Joseph’s Mercy Clinic hematology-oncology practice. Little did I know when choosing the specialty of oncology for my nursing career, that my knowledge would one day serve me? That day came on February 27 of 2008, when during a self-breast exam I discovered a lump in my right breast. After a mammogram and biopsy, my fear of having breast cancer was confirmed.
Most people who receive a cancer diagnosis are not so fortunate as to have a knowledge base of cancer and its treatments. Knowledge is power and I used that to overcome the fear that the dreaded disease brought. My co-workers at the clinic became my nurses and Dr. Reddy became my physician. One year, one month and 25 days after I received my cancer diagnosis, I successfully completed all of my chemotherapy and radiations treatments. I continued to work through it all, which provided me with a more empathetic perspective and helped me to focus more on the problems of others. For my husband, Gary, and I, who have survived 32 years of marriage and three children, the cancer diagnosis was just one more thing. This I now know for sure: God is always in control, prayer changes things, your faith and your family are your best allies, and every day is a gift.
Ruth Ann Fikes
At the age of 55 my late mother, Maxine, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given just six weeks to three months to live. She, however, went on to fight respective battles with pancreatic, breast and liver cancer that resulted in 23 more years of life. She was really sick at times, but never once complained, instead choosing to focus on the impact the process was having on our father, Stan, and we as kids. Her example of positive selflessness was an inspiration at the time, but more recently as I fought my own bout with an aggressive form of breast cancer it served me even more profoundly.
After finding a lump while bathing and receiving the subsequent diagnosis on June 26 of 2008, I quickly started drawing from my observance of her example. I knew you could live with cancer because I had witnessed my mother beating all the odds and doing it, so I just chose to believe it was in our family genes. The aggressive description scared me, but with my mother in mind I worked really hard to focus on the positive and tell myself it was a bump in the road. Thanks to that approach, plus excellent care from my doctors – medical oncologist Fred Divers, M.D. (Genesis Cancer Center) and radiation oncologist David Pruitt, M.D. (Mercy Cancer Center) – and their wonderful staffs, I am free of cancer and looking forward to many more years of survival.
