A good day in cancer land

My husband, Jim, and I moved to Houston after living in Philadelphia for 35 years. We love Houston because our children settled here and we have family and friends in the area. But the main reason we’re grateful to live in Houston is that we’re only 20 minutes away from MD Anderson.

For us, 2014 began with a jolt. After having a clear mammogram in June, in January I was diagnosed with ‘high risk, aggressive, potentially curable’ stage III triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). I never asked, ‘Why me?’ Given the millions struck with cancer, the more appropriate question seemed, ‘Why not me?’

I hoped to confront the disease with faith, grace, a positive attitude and a sense of humor. The power of prayer, the love of God, family and friends and the wonder of MD Anderson medicine have helped me fulfill that goal.

Because I was being treated at a world-class institution, I felt confident I could rely on the expertise of my medical team led by Sharon Giordano (chair, Health Services Research-Clinical), Beth Mittendorf (associate professor, Surgical Oncology), Melissa Crosby (associate professor, Plastic Surgery) and Eric Strom (professor, Radiation Oncology), with my beloved niece Jennifer Litton (associate professor, Breast Medical Oncology) as an adjunct member. My reliance has been well-placed. 

In a 2013 TNBC study, 54% of women who added carboplatin to their chemotherapy regimen had a complete therapeutic response compared with only 40% without carboplatin. Carboplatin, however, wreaks havoc on blood counts and has potential long-term adverse effects, so MD Anderson hasn’t added it to its standard TNBC regimen. In addition, some women in the study couldn’t tolerate carboplatin and had to end treatment early. Nonetheless, given my daunting diagnosis, my team offered me that option, which I readily embraced.

Here’s the wonder of MD Anderson medicine: My team elegantly tweaked the study’s approach, providing me the proverbial ‘win-win’ by reversing the standard order of the drugs. By administering carboplatin last, if I hadn’t been able to tolerate it, I could’ve dropped it while still completing the entire regimen. I felt I couldn’t lose, and I didn’t. After only two doses of chemotherapy, my tumors had shrunk 90% in the lymph nodes and 70% in the breast. After completing the full course with carboplatin, my lymph nodes were clear and a mere 2% viable tumor remained in the breast.

As my niece Jennifer stated, my strong therapeutic response was a ‘good day in cancer land.’ I’ve had many good days because angels doing God’s work abound at MD Anderson. In addition to the gifted doctors and nurses, they include experienced therapists, able technicians, cheerful receptionists and the wonderful cook in the Waterfall Café.

In October, I completed my final radiation, so my active treatment has
ended. I hoped cancer would make me a better person. I’m not sure that happened, but I know it’s forged in me a stronger faith in God and
stronger relationships with my family and friends. Thanks to the love of God, family and friends and the wonder of MD Anderson medicine, I’m  optimistic about my future and supremely grateful.