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
Note from Tim: Several years ago I surveyed our readers and learned that the “Survivor Spotlight” is the favorite column of our readers. That didn’t surprise me… after all, it is my favorite column to put together as well! Mike is our 35th “Survivor Spotlight. Although I have come to know Mike through his participation in some of our National Cancer Survivor’s Day events, our annual TLC Golf Outing, and through his visits to the clinic… I knew very little of his cancer story. He was diagnosed before I joined the staff and at a time I was going through some of my own cancer experiences. As I listened to all that he endured I was once again reminded that there are so many stories of strength, encouragement, and hope out there that many of us are simply unaware of. That is why I value the time I spend with fellow cancer survivors and my time involved in the TLC Supportive Community. Listening to these stories adds so much more to my life than hearing the latest gossip or most recent ball scores. A special thanks to Mike and all who have shared their stories with us!

Losing Carol:

I had lost my first wife, Carol, to brain cancer. She was diagnosed in 1979 and passed away in 1994 from leukemia that was actually caused by the chemotherapy she was given in the early part of her treatment. It was a new drug back then but they eventually found out that it caused leukemia years after treatment.

She lived 15 years with brain cancer that was controlled by surgery and radiation. But it wasn’t easy. She was on a medication to shrink the brain and that affected her whole personality. That was tough at times. And it was tough raising a family and being the father, mother, housekeeper, caregiver and breadwinner.

Carol put up a damn good fight, though! She didn’t give up at anytime. In a way, her cancer sort of softened the blow for me. Seeing what she went through and knowing how long she was able to live with her cancer gave me a lot of hope. I think a lot of times when people first hear they have cancer they automatically think that they can’t endure it… but after seeing what Carol endured I realized it could be done! There may be some suffering involved… but it could be done.

Meeting Fran:

When Carol died Fran came to the funeral. We got together a few times after that and just talked. Then we started dating and got married in the fall of ’96. A little over a year later we went on a trip to the Wisconsin Dells and sort of considered it our second honeymoon. We were still newlyweds! I had been having some problems with diarrhea that I just couldn’t seem to get under control so when I got back I contacted Dr. Stillwell.

The Diagnosis:

Dr. Stillwell got me in the office the next day and he scheduled a sigmoidoscopy the day after that. I remember laying on the bed and looking at the monitor because you are awake for that test. He saw something and said, “We’re going to have to take a biopsy of that!” I asked him if it looked like cancer and he said that he didn’t like making a diagnosis before seeing the results from the lab but it didn’t look good! Fran was in the room and she just sunk in her chair. I think we both knew it was cancer. Dr. Stillwell called the next morning and confirmed our fears. I couldn’t help but think, “Oh my gosh… my first wife had to go through this… now I have to go through this!”

The Surgery:

Next I went to Dr. Werner. Both my wife and I were anxious to get started with treatment so we had the surgery to remove the cancer over Christmas and I was in the hospital for a week. They discovered that it had spread to the liver so he took as much from the liver as he thought he could but he wasn’t able to get it all. At first I was told that if it hadn’t spread I would have a good chance of survival… so learning it had spread to the liver was not good news.

More Bad News:

Next was a meeting with “the Big Guy” (Dr. Matthews). After he got all the tests and labs back he said, statistically, I had a 20% chance of surviving two years. He suggested I begin getting things in order. But he assured me that we would give it the best possible shot!

C. diff & Chemo:

We had the kids over for New Years and I got diarrhea again… just like before the surgery. I called Dr. Werner who put me on antibiotics. Then I had my first chemo and that really knocked me on my butt and I ended up in the hospital. Other than the days that I actually went in for chemo that was the only time I missed work. Eventually, they diagnosed me with C. diff.

Note from Tim: As it was explained to me by one of our wonderful nurses, C. diff, or Clostridium difficile, is usually due to antibiotic therapy that kills bacteria in the intestines allowing remaining germs to multiply out of control. This results in severe and often foul-smelling diarrhea.

That was by far the most miserable thing I have ever been through! It was worse then chemo or any of the side effects! The worst thing about it was the smell of that hospital room. It was so bad my wife even admitted that it was a chore for her to come and see me. I think it was a chore for anyone, even the doctors and nurses, to come and see me! It was just miserable!

After I recovered from the C. diff, I went back on chemotherapy. At first Dr. Matthews cut back a little on the chemo because I was still getting over the C. diff, but after each treatment I would say, “That wasn’t so bad… I can handle more if you want to give me more!” I was willing to fight it and I wasn’t ready to give up. I’m an old junkyard dog that way… you aren’t going to get rid of me that easily! So I went after it.

Chemo lasted until about August. The worst part was that first week after I got chemo when my mouth felt like hamburger and I couldn’t eat. That’s what I called it, “Hamburger mouth.” It bothered my speech, it bothered my eating habits, and it was a constant pain… but then it would clear up after about a week. I didn’t mind losing my hair. It even came back curly. The diarrhea, well, I was getting used to that.

A New Procedure Offered Greater Hope:

After chemo Dr. Matthews sent me to Madison for a new procedure. They had just started doing liver resections for cases like mine. The doctor told me, “It’s still experimental and it’s not a sure thing… but you would be a good candidate for it.” I was willing to do anything that might have given me a better outcome, so we did the resection. The old tough dog I am… we went down there on a Tuesday evening and stayed in a hotel so we could be there first thing Wednesday morning for the resection. As soon as I could I got up and started walking the hallways. The doctor was amazed at how quickly I recovered and he said, “Get out of here… I’ll see you in a week!” I went home already on Thursday!

Follow Up:

After that I came in every month for scans and tests, then every two months, then every three months, then every six months. I was always very apprehensive whenever I came in to see Dr. Matthews, but he was ecstatic with my progress. And so was I! Now I go in for scans about twice a year and I’ve been feeling good since! I still have some problems with my bowels every once in a while which is an after-effect of the C. diff. You never get rid of that like you never get rid of cancer! It’s always with you! So I put up with it. It has been more than nine years since I was diagnosed but I still don’t think of myself as being “cured!” We may not see evidence of it on the scans but it’s there. So I live with it!

Not Even Cancer Stopped Mike:

I was just about to start up a business of my own with a partner when this all happened, but then I got sick. After I was done with treatment I went back to school and got a two-year degree from MSOE. Then my partner and I started up our business in 2002 and I retired earlier this year after growing the business from 3 accounts to 18 accounts. I continue to do some consulting yet (as little as possible) in an effort to help my partner continue to grow the business.

Cancer Changed (and Continues to Change) Mike:

You can’t go through something like cancer and not be changed by it. I still think about cancer. There are constant reminders: commercials on TV, doctor’s appointments, others that I know who are going through cancer right now. I try to do as much as I can while I can. In a way I guess I try to block it out.

One thing that cancer did for me once I was on the road to recovery is it made me live life more fully. Now that I am retired my wife and I are enjoying things more and doing what we want. We recently made a trip out west and visited Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon as well as other places. Before cancer I don’t know if I would have appreciated it as much… but now I just look at that stuff in awe! So beautiful! So gorgeous! If you really pay attention to what God made in this world it has to give you a better outlook on things! Next we hope to get up to Alaska!

At one time I had a “Who cares?” attitude. Before my diagnosis, nothing bothered me. I figured I’d live forever and I’d live through anything. Even when I was in Vietnam and got shot I never really thought about dying or being killed. But when I was told to get my life in order… I suddenly realized that I wasn’t going to live forever.

Cancer has caused many good changes in my life. I have more feelings for other people. I’m more concerned about what my actions say to other people. I’m more forgiving. And I think I treat other people with more kindness and thoughtfulness. Now that I’m retired I’m looking to volunteer a little more to help others. And even though my cancer started nine years ago and I am out of treatment… cancer is still changing me! For me cancer has been a good reminder that we’re all down here for a reason and God will take us when it is our time. I’m just glad it isn’t my time yet!

A Good Attitude:

When I was first diagnosed I was convinced that I was going to make it because at the time my parents were depending on me, I had just gotten married and had a new wife. Not only did that give me a reason to fight but it also kept my mind off some of my own problems. I said right away, “I’m not giving up! I’m going to fight this!” I never asked God, “Why me?” I just prayed, “God, help me through this!” There is really nothing that I worry about anymore.

When I had my chemotherapy I talked to people on either side of me and I realized that a lot of these people had this same attitude. If you don’t keep that attitude you’re beaten right away. Even if the cancer doesn’t kill you… a bad attitude will kill you. I think a lot of people survive as well as they do because they have that attitude.

A Supportive Spouse:

My wife has been a rock through this whole thing! She’s helped me a lot by encouraging me, picking me up when I was feeling down! Spouses of cancer patients have a lot to deal with! I think this has changed her life as well.

Advice to Others:

Don’t ever give up! Don’t ever give up! In the long run, the cancer may win. But don’t give up on it! Sometimes you can’t beat it… but I still think you need that attitude that you are going to beat it… because, you know what? You never know! Statistically, I’m not supposed to be here anymore… but I’m alive and well!

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

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