|
|
 |
Patient Testimonials & Stories
Cancer Care Resources invites you to share your testimony of your cancer experience with others. By sharing with others, we can reach out to those in need of services and those who may need more information about the diagnosis, treatments, and the other issuses a patient may face. Your testimony may be used by Cancer Care Resources for sharing with other patients, for print and broadcast media, for print materials such as announcements, newsletters, and brochures, for advertising, etc. However, you can decide not to have your name or other information shared with others and your privacy will be respected. Please consider sharing with us and those that may be experiencing similar feelings. Thank you!
Top 3 out of 3
|
Christine A.
I was two weeks away from my 5-year anniversary when I received the news that my breast cancer had reoccured. How could this happen? I had done everything right the first time - the cancer was found early, it was treated aggressively; my chances of a reoccurrence were very small.
The next week or so was a blur as I was put through a battery of tests to see if the cancer had metastasized to other parts of my body. I was blessed - all the tests came back negative. Once I knew what I was dealing with I shifted into the fight mode - I told my oncologist I wanted all the big guns in order to get rid of this once and for all. And I also told him I wanted to stay active - I wanted to work, exercise, and still participate in life. It was very important for me to have an oncologist who understood and supported that - someone who was treating me as a person - not just a disease.
I started looking for the parts of my life I could control. Chemo was scheduled on Fridays so I could minimize my time out of the office. I made time every day to pray - I needed spiritual centering. The big one for me was making a commitment to exercise (I remembered reading in Lance Armstrong's book how he got back on his bike during treatment). And all of these choices made a difference.
Exercise became a big area of focus for me. There were days I could only walk to the end of my driveway but I did it. Then it became a game - I'll exercise everyday until my chemo is over, then radiation, then until I hit the one-year anniversary of my diagnosis. Well, it has been over three years since my last diagnosis and I have done some physical exercise everyday. It makes me feel alive and healthy.
When diagnosed with cancer you figure out pretty quickly that you need a strong medical team - surgeons, oncologists, and radiologist. And I was fortunate to have a true "Dream Team". During treatment there was a great intensity and focus on doing whatever was necessary to beat the disease.
What I was not prepared for was the emotional side that surfaced for me at the end of treatment. I felt like I had been running a marathon distance at a sprint pace and all of a sudden, the road ended and I was standing at the edge of a cliff with no sure footing below. I was so surprised by these feelings - it wasn't what at all what I expected. When I shared this with Dr. Olson he understood and reassured me that it was often a common experience. It was at that point he recommended Cancer Care Resources.
I called and explained what I was going throught. They listened to what I was experiencing and suggested I might want to talk to Susan Hedlund. By coincidence, or what I like to call devine intervention, Susan had just started with Cancer Care Resources.
I was amazed when I stepped into their office for the first time and found a non-profit organization with such a high caliber of staff whose reason for being was to support patients like me, families, caregivers, and work with medical professionals on the emotional dimensions of cancer. What an incredible gift they are to the community here in the NW.
One-on-one counseling was what I needed and I started seeing Susan on a regular basis and continue to do so. What I've learned in working with her has changed and enriched the quality of my life.
- I've gained an understanding about the emotional side of cancer and to not be afraid of it.
- I've learned new coping skills to deal with these emotions. Especially after my second diagnosis it was hart to know what I could trust. But I have learned lessons and discovered that fear and courage and joy and sorrow can share the same house.
- And maybe most importantly, I've been inspired to live life fully knowing there is a fruitful and promising future on the other side of cancer.
In many respects, I feel stronger and healthier than I have ever been! And a big part of that comes from the support I have received at Cancer Care Resources.
|
Neal K.
In March of 2004, I was diagnosed with advanced squamous-cell carcinoma at the right-hand base of my tongue with metastasis in several lymph nodes in the right side of my neck. Up to that point, I had enjoyed nearly 57 years of excellent health. I exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet and don't smoke. I had no obvious risk factors. The only family history of cancer I know of was with my maternal Grandfather, who died very painfully in his early 80's of prostate cancer. His death when I was 12 left me with the impression that getting cancer would be the worst thing that could happen to someone. My only close experience with cancer was that it was scary, sad and fatal.
Needless to say, the diagnosis rocked my world. My first thought was that I was going to die and I was very fearful. But I started to rethink my prognosis as I got more information. CT and PET scans gave me hope that the cancer had not spread beyond my neck. My doctors were guardedly optimistic they could effectively treat the disease. Even so, the treatment plan of aggressive chemotherapy and radiation sounded very difficult and painful. But the alternatives I looked at didn't seem at all hopeful so I prayed for guidance and elected to give the treatment plan my full commitment.
My oncologist gave me what information he could about the treatment, but he has a very high patient load and there was a limit to the time he could spend explaining things like side effects and their mitigation. Recognizing that I had more questions than he had time, he connected me with Rosemary McDermott of Cancer Care Resources. Rosemary generously spent time with my wife and me informing us about many of the treatment-related issues I would face and some good things to do to help deal with them. She also connected me with a buddy I will call John. John is a gregarious survivor who underwent nearly identical treatment for the same type of cancer about 2 years before me. He had written a treatment journal that he shared with CCR's clients. This was a great help to me and I referred back to it over and over during different stages of my treatment and recovery. I wasn't able to relate to all of John's narrative at one reading. It's hard to explain why not, but I just had to experience each phase myself and work through that step before dealing with the next challenge.
John was very generous with his time, taking a full afternoon away from his demanding job to come talk with me while I was undergoing chemotherapy infusion. I also phoned him several times after that to talk about things I was going through. It is hard to adequately express the depth of my gratitude for the shared experience of having a buddy that has been there and can empathize with my struggles.
Overall, my treatment experience was excellent, and the outcome (blessedly) very positive. I received very caring treatment from my oncologist, radiologist, oncology nurses and the radiology staff. My wife, family, friends, and employer were exceptionally supportive and I benefited from excellent books by very nuturing authors on holistic healing, diet, and nutrition. (I was also inspired by Lance Armstrong's book.) I am grateful that I was blessed with a strong body, spiritual energy, and good health. I believe my overall good health helped enable my recovery, but I think the caring people in my life made the most difference. I am truly grateful to all those loving folks who walked with me along the treatment path.
As of this writing, I am nearing 2 years of survivorship. I have learned many things from my disease, among them that there are a lot of wonderful folks out there who truly love to help others. I am grateful to be back to an active lifestyle and I am hopeful for a healthy future. I am most grateful to Cancer Care Resources for their very caring support during my treatment and recovery.
|
Alan McGuire-Dale
My first anniversary of “the call” will be in a few weeks. It is the call from the doctor that suddenly turns your world upside down. After many tests and major surgery, the word cancer forever became part of my life. Chemotherapy soon followed.
As an avid bicyclist logging 6,000-8,000 miles a year and racing in the local masters’ category races, it was incomprehensible to be off the bike. But chemo has a way of sapping much of your physical and mental strength in ways never experienced before. I could barely manage a routine 7-mile warm up ride once very 3 weeks. I was at 10% of my fitness level.
I was desperate. Luckily, one of my oncology nurses referred me to Cancer Care Resources where there was a coached program called InPower. A few phone calls and an application got me my first appointment several weeks later.
I will never forget my first meeting with Laura Friedman. She sat me down, looked me sternly in the eye and impaled me with the statement, “you have got to listen us, we know what we are doing!” Laura who has a BS degree in Exercise and Movement Science and specialized training in cancer exercise is teamed up with Rosemary McDermott, an oncology nurse with more than 32 years of experience. They worked closely with my doctor to tailor a coached program specific to my condition.
I was no stranger to the use of heart rate monitors for training. When told not to exceed 125 beats per minute, I had my doubts. I barely break a sweat at this intensity, but soon found out just how difficult it was to keep it there.
That was 4 months ago.
Today, beyond my wildest expectations, I raced. It was a 20 mile time trial that I normally complete in under 55 minutes. I was hoping to break 70 minutes and only dreaming of breaking 60. After crossing the finish line, I cramped up so bad that I had to get off the bike and needed help back to the staging area. I had broken 58 minutes!
The InPower program got me though the physical and mental effects of chemotherapy. The holistic team approach provided by Laura and Rosemary helped me achieve my dream of getting back on the bike. They really do know what they are doing.
Alan McGuire-Dale
4/15/2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Join us for this exciting two day event, July 28 & 29, 2008. Click the above icon or go to the Events page for more details and Sponsors.
REGISTER HERE
.jpg)
For a list of available wines click here. For FAQ's click here. Completed order forms can be faxed to 503-546-8989 or mailed to 439 N. Broadway, Portland, OR 97227.
|
 |
|
|
|
