Survivor Spotlight: JOANNE D'ALTON : Breast Cancer Survivor
Summer, 2007

Survivor Spotlight: FRANK YINKO : Colon Cancer Survivor
April, 2007

Survivor Spotlight: NANCY LAARMAN : Ovarian Cancer Survivor
January, 2007

Survivor Spotlight on MIKE LEMAHIEU : Colon Cancer Survivor (with liver metastisis)
December, 2006

Survivor Spotlight on MARY LICHTERMAN : Breast Cancer Survivor
September, 2006

Survivor Spotlight: JIM HAMMERLING : Multiple Myeloma Survivor
July, 2006

Survivor Spotlight: LORI SCHULTZ : Breast Cancer Survivor
May, 2006

Survivor Spotlight Update: BOB SHAROT : Head & Neck Cancer Survivor
May, 2006

Survivor Spotlight on MATT RILEY : Medullablastoma Cancer Survivor
December, 2005

Survivor Spotlight on MARTY TEN PAS : Breast Cancer Survivor
September, 2005

Survivor Spotlight Update on RALPH LEMP : Prostate Cancer Survivor
September, 2005

Survivor Spotlight Update on SANDY AMWEG : Breast Cancer Survivor
June, 2005

Survivor Spotlight on STEVE PHILIPPS : Prostate Cancer Survivor
June, 2005

Survivor Spotlight on IONE HEINEN : Breast Cancer & Colo-Rectal Cancer Survivor
April, 2005
Note from Tim: When I sat down with Ione to prepare for this column she asked, “Are you sure you want me to talk about all of the problems I’ve had along the way?” Ione’s cancer journey has surely not been without difficulty. She was one of those that was very sensitive to chemotherapy and experienced most of the normal side affects… and then some. What makes her story so inspirational is that throughout the physical challenges she experienced she has managed to keep her mind and her spirit strong and healthy!

First Challenge: Breast Cancer!

When I was in my early 30s they found a lump about the size of a plum in my breast. At first, they thought it might be cancer but it turned out to be benign. Ever since then I seemed to have a cyst removed every few years. At the time I was seeing Dr. Hansen, a much-loved doctor in Sheboygan Falls, who told me, “You can’t keep doing this, I’m afraid one of these times its going to be cancer!” So I was very vigilant about my mammograms and check ups. I had to have cysts removed from my breast in ’89, ’90, and ’91 that all turned out to be benign. But in ’92 it was cancer!

There was no cancer in my lymph nodes so I had the mastectomy and didn’t need chemotherapy or radiation. So the breast cancer wasn’t a problem at all! I continue to go in for my mammograms! I’ve tried to get them for half price but it doesn’t seem to work that way! (Ha-ha!) My neighbor had her left breast removed because of cancer and I had my right breast removed so she thought we should go in together and maybe they would only charge us for one mammogram! But that didn’t work either! (Ha-ha!)

Second Challenge: Colo-rectal Cancer!

In April of 2003 I started experiencing changes in my bowel habits. My sister had colon cancer in 1995 and she is doing well. When I started having problems they weren’t nearly as severe as her problems. There was diarrhea, constipation, and a few times I passed blood but I thought that was due to my hemorrhoids. Thankfully, my husband kept pushing me to see the doctor.

When I went to my family doctor he suggested that I have a colonoscopy but he wasn’t too worried because he said nothing showed up on any of my blood tests. It took about three or four weeks for the appointment to be made and things got progressively worse! I had the colonoscopy and afterwards the doctor came in and said, “I have bad news for you. It’s cancer!” He showed me the x-rays and I could even see it! Because the tumor had ulcerated and was weeping they would need to do surgery right away. They ended up removing portions of my colon and rectum. At first I figured because the breast cancer wasn’t so bad this wouldn’t be so bad either. Boy, was I wrong!

Treating Colo-rectal Cancer!

After the surgery I had to see an oncologist and, with my sister’s urging, I came in to see Dr. Matthews. He told me it was an aggressive cancer. Then I had to see Dr. Pao who told me it was an advanced aggressive cancer! At that point I didn’t want to see anymore doctors because I had heard enough! (Ha-ha!)

Because I was still young and in good health Dr. Matthews prescribed a more aggressive treatment. I would come in on Monday and they would put the pump on and then I’d come in on Wednesday and they’d take it off. I was supposed to do this for three weeks and then I’d be off for a couple weeks. Well, I got through two weeks and everything went from bad to worse.

Cory Jepsen-Hobbs warned me that I’d be really tired and yawning all of the time… but I didn’t expect it to be as bad as it was. She also told me that I would be more sensitive to cold things. Well, I couldn’t even go in the refrigerator. In addition, I had really bad diarrhea and my blood pressure was dropping. My husband was concerned because there were times when he tried but couldn’t wake me up. Dr. Matthews realized that I was missing an enzyme that helps metabolize things. Apparently about 1 in 40 people are missing this enzyme and these people typically have a more difficult time with chemo. So he changed my treatment to one that might have more manageable side effects.

I was supposed to get through about six to eight weeks of this treatment. But after only three weeks we had to stop because of the side effects. At one point I was feeling so incredibly rotten but I didn’t want to complain. Dr. Matthews asked how many trips I was making to the bathroom and I said, “About 15.” Well, Ron piped in, “Try about 30 or 40!” I knew it was that much but I didn’t want to tell him! So he said, “I’m putting you in the hospital!” I probably should have sat up straighter at this appointment and presented myself better. Maybe then he wouldn’t have put me in the hospital… but I just didn’t have the energy. (Ha-ha!) But they have these nice beds at St. Nicholas Hospital and all I wanted to do was stay in bed!

It was funny because it seemed that when Nancy McGlaughlin would take care of me I would be fine… but when Dr. Matthews would see me something always seemed to go wrong. At one point he stuck his head into the exam room and said, “I don’t know if you want me to come in here anymore!” And we laughed!

Eventually Dr. Matthews said, “This isn’t working either!” We talked about whether I should discontinue treatment but I didn’t feel comfortable with that because I knew I didn’t get as much treatment as they wanted. So I went to visit Dr. Pao. I was supposed to get radiation and chemo at the same time but with all the side effects I had been experiencing Dr. Matthews suggested that I just go on radiation alone for a while and we would reassess what else could be done after that. I had 28 radiation treatments between January and February. I was tired and had some diarrhea but it wasn’t too bad.

After radiation Dr. Matthews told me, “You got through radiation so well I think I’m going to put you back on chemo!” And I thought, “Here we go again!” So far I had only gotten about half of what I was supposed to get and he was reducing my doses. But again… I got really sick after the first treatment. I’m not sure if I picked up the flu or if it was the chemo… but was I sick!

After a couple of weeks of rest I tried it again and my dosage was reduced even more. That I could tolerate pretty well. I was supposed to have twelve treatments and I made it through all of them except the very last one. By that time I was feeling so poorly that Ron told Judy, RN “I don’t know if she can take any more!” I was thinking the same thing. So when I came in for my last chemo I knew I had to be firm and tell the doctor, “I’m not going to have anymore chemo!” Fortunately, about three of the chemo nurses got together with Nancy Mac and Dr. Matthews and they came to the same conclusion. So I was done with chemo.

Talking with Other Cancer Survivors!

When I was going through treatment and having severe bowel problems I thought I was the only person that this was happening to. Then one day another patient with colon cancer came in for a shot. She said, “I’m just so sick of cleaning my bathroom walls!” “Oh,” I said, “so I’m not the only one that has that?” And she said, “Oh no! I think my bathroom walls have been washed more than any other part of my house!” And we talked and laughed about it. Suddenly I didn’t feel so odd.

It seems like when you find other cancer survivors to talk to it’s almost like family. And really, after I stopped coming here because my treatments were over I really missed that! Everyone here is like family to me - the doctors, the nurses, and the other patients. It sounds really stupid but I almost felt depressed because I wasn’t coming in here anymore.

That’s the reason I started coming to TLC. I actually wanted to come while I was going through treatment… but with all of my problems I just didn’t want to take the chance. But now that I’m out of treatment I find it good to talk to other people about what we went through and what we continue to go through.

How She Got Through It All!

There were several things that got me through this. First there was my faith in God. I think that all of the things that have happened to us have prepared us for other things in life! I think my breast cancer diagnosis prepared us for our son’s medical problems. Those problems caused us to sell the farm at our retirement age of 65. Fortunately, we did because Ron had heart bypass surgery within a year of our retirement and has had numerous related heart problems. And that seemed to get us ready for this. What’s next? Only God knows!

Then there was my husband! My husband was my worst enemy, but my best caregiver. He would call the office from home and tell them what was going on and they would tell him, “Bring her in here right away!” Well, I just wanted to stay in bed and sleep! I didn’t even want to get in the car! The nurses even said that Ron was a good “watchdog” for me because he kept such a close eye on me. Ron just kind of took over around the house. He told me I didn’t have to do it and he made sure what needed to get done got done!

And I can’t say enough about the staff here! You come in here feeling pretty rotten and before you know it you’re laughing with the staff and with many of the patients. The nurses did an excellent job of preparing me for what might happen. Then, when something did happen it didn’t scare me and I felt I was a little more prepared to deal with it. I feel good that when I look back at the treatment and the decisions we made… I don’t think I would have done anything differently.

And my church family was a wonderful support. I do have a wonderful “mentor” in Marlys Jensema who has been dealing with her cancer for about 25 years. We talk a lot. And I’ve got a lot of people praying for me so I think it will be all right! If not, well, I’m 69 and I’ve lived a good life!

You have to laugh about it because if you don’t laugh you cry! Ron tells me I’m his “angel” because I’m up in the air always harping about something! So I tell ‘him, “Sometime I wake up ‘grumpy’ and sometime I let him (‘grumpy’) sleep!” We just like to laugh together!

Advice to Others!

When my sister went through treatment she painted her house and didn’t have any problems so I figured it would be the same for me. Well, I learned that every cancer is different, the treatments are different, and every person reacts differently to the treatment. I think we all can expect to be tired, but even that may vary.

Keep a good sense of humor and actually enjoy your time when you are in the treatment room because the nurses and doctors and other patients are all just wonderful! If you have a good support system behind you, whether it is a spouse or family or friends, don’t be afraid to use them. And keep your faith in God. Every day you live is a gift from God!

Survivor Spotlight Update: DON FICKETT : As Told By Caregiving Champion: LINDA FICKETT
March, 2005

Survivor Spotlight Update on AUDREY SWITA : Breast Cancer Survivor
January, 2005

Survivor Spotlight on BOB SHAROT : Head & Neck Cancer Survivor
January, 2005

Survivor Spotlights on DIANA BRAY & MARY SCHMEISER : Diana - Lung Cancer, Mary - Breast Cancer
October, 2004

Survivor Spotlight Update on GENE TE WINKLE : Melanoma Survivor
October, 2004

Survivor Spotlight Update on MARY ANN HAMMES : Breast Cancer Survivor
August, 2004

Survivor Spotlight on ART WESENER (Colon Cancer) : with Caregiving Champion JOANNE WESENER
August, 2004

Survivor Spotlight on JUDY FRIEDERICHS : Breast Cancer Survivor
June, 2004

Survivor Spotlight Update on PAT JENKINS : Breast Cancer & Hodgkin's Disease Survivor
June, 2004

Survivor Spotlight on: DR. PHIL WALKER : Prostate Cancer Survivor
March, 2004

Survivor Spotlight Update on: Rollie Huibregtse : Leukemia Survivor
March, 2004

Survivor Spotlight on: PEGGY KERR : Colon Cancer Survivor
January, 2004

Survivor Spotlight on EUGENE TEWINKLE : Melonoma Survivor
November, 2003

Survivor Spotlight Update on LINDA BURKART : Thymoma Cancer Survivor
November, 2003