INNERVENTION R

I AM A CANCER SURVIVOR!

WRITER: VICKY FOUST

Iam told a cancer survivor is cancer-free… but I disagree with that because every day that I wake up, I feel I am a cancer survivor. You see, I have Stage IV cancer, and I have been told I will never be cancer-free. But I am a survivor. In fact, I am so busy surviving and living that I don’t have time to worry about having cancer.

Where did this all start?

When I was 67, I felt a sharp pain in my left breast. I checked it out in the mirror and saw a dimple and immediately thought — this can’t be good! Even though there was no history of breast cancer in my family I went for a mammogram, and that was immediately followed by a biopsy.

While waiting for the biopsy report, my husband, Ken, and I arrived home from work to see a beautiful rainbow in our backyard. It was on the grass, not up in the sky where rainbows are usually found. The rain was coming down like the deluge Noah saw before he got on the ark, and immediately, I said to Ken, “It’s a sign!

Everything will be okay!”

Then we went to the doctor’s office for the results of the biopsy. Everything wasn’t okay. We heard the dreaded word “cancer”… then “stage two,” “aggressive,” “invasive”. The surgeons gave us options, but we chose the complete radical mastectomy. The doctor said he could do it in two weeks. Ken asked, “Can you do it in one?” The doctor agreed, and the day before my 68th birthday, I had my left breast and seventeen lymph nodes removed.

During the night, the nurse asked if I needed a pain pill but explained she couldn’t give it to me until 5a.m. I said, “I have no pain. Whatever the anesthesiologist gave me must still be working.”

The nurse replied, “There was no pain killer in the anesthesia.” When 5a.m. rolled around I said, “I’m still not feeling any pain. I don’t need a pill.” During the entire time of my recovery, even though we filled the prescription for the pain pills, I never took even one. The bandages were uncomfortable at times, but there was never any pain.

WE EACH HAD A DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHY WHEN IT CAME TO MY RECOVERY. MY HUSBAND’S PHILOSOPHY WAS THIS: STUFF THE BRA, AND KEEP THE PARTY GOING! MY SON’S WAS: YOU ARE NOT 16 AND LOOKING FOR A HUSBAND! MINE WAS: I JUST WANT TO LOOK NORMAL.

When it came time to go home from the hospital, my husband and son, Charlie, came to get me. Charlie asked the doctor if he could take me home on his motorcycle. He told him he had brought two helmets! They all laughed at him. I have two wonderful men in my life!

We each had a different philosophy when it came to my recovery. My husband’s philosophy was this: Stuff the bra, and keep the party going! My son’s was: You are not 16 and looking for a husband! Mine was: I just want to look normal. After all, it wasn’t an arm or a leg taken off. That would have been much harder to get used to.

A Long Road Ahead

This was just the beginning of a long, hard journey. The first problem we encountered was the fact I seem to have sensitivity to prescription medications… and I was on a lot of them. As two years went by, I was on Tamoxifen, then Arimidex, then Aromasin, then Exemestane.

Then they found out the cancer had metastasized to my left hip, and they took me off all my meds. I started radiation therapy on my left hip, and we found it had spread to my right hip… more radiation. It then started up my back and the radiation treatment followed close behind.

Doctors then found it had spread to my liver and adrenal glands, and I was put on the chemotherapy drug Abraxene for six months.

Following a PET/CT scan they found two spots on my spine, so once again I began rounds of chemo.

I now attend the Livestrong exercise program at the YMCA. It is a twelveweek program that is held two times a week.

Since 2007, I have felt terrific! If the doctors didn’t keep telling me I have cancer, I wouldn’t even know I have it. I do volunteer work. I belong to twelve clubs and organizations.

I have twelve doctors looking after me. Every year, my company, R & R Garage Doors, Inc., hosts a cancer fundraiser cruise to raise money for the American Cancer Society Hernando Resource Room. They give free wigs, prostheses, bras, and turbans to uninsured or underinsured patients who can’t afford to buy them. Next year will be our seventh annual cruise.

When I found out I had cancer, I emailed my relatives and friends to ask for their prayers. Ken said I sent out so many emails that I must have emailed the pope, but I didn’t. I pray morning and night for my family, friends, other people who have cancer… and then for me.

I belong to a Cancer Support Group. It is so uplifting! (Get the pun?) What a fantastic group of women! They are always raising money for Hernando ladies who can’t afford to pay for mammograms and other good causes.

Since I lost my long dark hair from the chemo, I started wearing a short blond wig. Most of my friends don’t recognize me. I have to say, “It is me, Vicky. I am having chemo, I am bald, and this is a wig.” And boy, it is true! Blonds have more fun! The men give me lots more attention… and their wives certainly don’t like that.

I am 73 now. I have had cancer for six years and look forward to each new day. Like I said… when I saw the rainbow I knew everything would be okay.

P.S. My biggest goal right now is to finish my “chocolate cookbook.” It will be the greatest chocolate cookbook ever! The problem is that the recipes are all handwritten, and I haven’t learned how to type.