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
Note from Tim: Nancy was very ill when I first met her back in 2000 shortly after her cancer diagnosis. But I still remember Nancy looking quite young for her age. There was a youthfulness about her that went beyond her physical condition. Despite all that she has been through, none of that has changed. Now, at a young-looking 84 years of age, she still possesses a youthful smile, a youthful twinkle in her eye, and a youthful passion for life! To say that Nancy is the “oldest” Survivor Spotlight we have featured in this column just doesn’t seem right! She is a wonderful example that both age and health are as much a state of mind as a physical condition and I would consider her to be one of the “youngest” of heart!

Here it goes…

When Tim asked me to be a “Survivor Spotlight” for this issue, my first response was, “No, I truly wouldn’t have much to say!” But when he suggested that my story might possibly give other cancer patients a lift I agreed. So here it goes.

I was a city girl all my life until I met my husband in New York where I was working and he was recruiting WACs (Women’s Army Corp). We were married and decided to buy my husband’s family homestead farm near Oostburg where he was born and raised.

My husband had cancer and we went to St. Luke’s for some routine testing and exploratory surgery to see how far the cancer had spread. He never recovered from the surgery and he was in intensive care for three days before he died. The cancer had spread through his whole body, he was unable to breath on his own, and he was in misery… so as sad as I was to see him go, it really was for the best. That was in 1986. I have two sons and a daughter. My oldest son had a cancer that I never knew about until it was all done. He was in North Carolina and he didn’t tell his mother about it. He went through chemo and radiation but he’s going to be sixty years old and he’s doing fine now.

I figured I was just getting older…

In late 2000 I started having some vague symptoms. I lost a little weight and I just wasn’t feeling like myself. I didn’t think it was anything serious and figured I was just getting older… after all; I was almost 78 years old! It went on for a while so I thought I’d better get it checked out. After a few appointments, scans and tests, Dr. Pawlak called me at home around Thanksgiving of that year and said, “Nancy, your CT scans revealed a large mass.” I said, “What you are saying is I have cancer?” And he said, “Yes!” I certainly wasn’t happy about the news… but I wasn’t shocked either.

Dr. Martin performed surgery on Pearl Harbor Day, just 2 days after my 78th birthday. After the surgery when I got home, I can remember so well, I was just so worn out! But I would say my prayers to thank God because I knew he would take care of me. I wasn’t afraid! Whatever was and is God’s will I was and am willing to accept. I don’t mean for that to sound Polly-Annish. But it’s true. I figure, what can I do? It’s in God’s hands! It’s funny… I can sometimes worry about little things, crazy things, things that don’t amount to anything… but something like cancer, well; I knew I really had no control over it.

I also have great faith in Dr. Matthews and I trusted that he would do his best for me. I first met with Dr. Matthews sometime in January of 2001 and I was so frail… just skin and bones. My normal weight was about 125 but at that point I was less than 100. He felt I was too frail and fragile right after surgery to begin chemotherapy so we postponed treatment for a few months to allow me some time to get some of my strength back.

He was always very forthright with me and my family when we talked about my chances for recovery… they were very poor. But, of course, he would do his best for me.

I consider myself to be VERY lucky…

I consider myself to be VERY lucky. I didn’t experience any nausea but I did have extreme fatigue, as I am sure most people can relate to. And it was very difficult to eat. Margaret, my sister, came from Indiana and stayed with me and cared for me during those difficult months. She would say to me, “Nancy, you can’t sleep now… you have to eat!” And I would tell her, “I don’t want to eat… I just want to sleep!”

I don’t know what I would have done without her! She was there with me over Thanksgiving when I got the phone call from Dr. Pawlak telling me I had cancer… and she stayed with me for about four months! When we were kids growing up together we fought like cats and dogs… but now we are so close. I don’t know what I would have done without her! I certainly would have needed some outside help if it wasn’t for her.

Chemotherapy wasn’t horrid…

Chemotherapy wasn’t horrid! My hair started to fall out and I decided to have my head shaved because I knew it was only going to get worse and come out anyway. And I must say, my new wig was an improvement over my real hair! Losing my hair didn’t bother me a bit. I thought, “Oh my gosh, that’s the least of things!” For so many women it is a very traumatic thing but it just didn’t hit me that way. I went to the “Look Good, Feel Better” session with Darlene Usadel and, I have to say, she really knows her stuff!

I had a couple of nasty accidents with my bowels when I was in the treatment room. There was nothing I could do about it and the nurses were so good and so kind. They’re probably used to things like that. I had some problems that night at the “Look Good, Feel Better” session and had to leave abruptly. Mary Schueller was there and she followed me out to take care of me and make sure I was okay. Mary is such a sweetie, so smart, and is just so helpful to everybody!

And then there was the “chemo brain!” I had terrible chemo brain. I was forgetting the simplest of things… like how to set the VCR, or driving directions and it was very disconcerting and scary. I thought I was going nuts! I would say that it took about six months before I felt my mind and my memory were back to normal.

Remission… what wonderful words to hear…

After coming in once a month for chemo treatments along with the hydration and many other visits for about a half of a year, Dr. Matthews told me I was in remission! What wonderful words to hear! By the grace of God and the skill and caring of the entire oncology staff I am still around after six years. I still come back every three months to see the doctor. Sometimes I feel guilty taking up his time because there are so many others who need him. I’ve asked him, “Do I have to come back in three months? Can’t we make it six months?” “No way!” he says. I understand, recurrence is common and if it should show signs of recurring we can hopefully get at it quickly. One time he added, “Besides, things weren’t going the way I wanted them to today. But then seeing you and knowing how well you are doing makes me feel good.” I certainly don’t mind coming in and seeing the doctor and the nurses!

I owe my survivorship to Dr. Matthews and the wonderful clinic staff. We are just so lucky to have all of them here. I know that they get this accolade all of the time but I truly feel that way.

Dr. Matthews knows what he is doing and he gives everybody the best chance possible. I think God has given him these special talents and he is guided by these talents and his faith.

With all of the people who are in need of his care, he still wants to know how each of his patients are doing… those in treatment and those out of treatment. And he is interested in all areas of his patients’ lives. At one point he sent me to a former colleague of his, a spine specialist, who is the head of the spine center in Madison. He didn’t have to do that… it had nothing to do with my cancer… but he was concerned about my overall health and well-being.

In addition to the doctor, I just have to say that those nurses at the clinic are something special!

I was diagnosed when I was 78…

I was diagnosed when I was 78! That was more than six years ago. I was an old lady then, and I’m even older now! I had experienced enough of life by that time and I was pretty set in my way of life but the cancer experience still changed me. Most of all, it gave me an even greater sense of gratitude for the things I have such as family, friends, reasonably good health, and my independence. I am just so much more grateful for what I have and don’t take things for granted anymore.

I used to say my prayers at night but I would fall asleep before I was finished, so now I say them in the morning… usually after a cup of coffee. And my first prayer is usually one of thanks that I don’t have cancer! I thank God for another day and for my independence. I still have severe back pain that sometimes drives me wild and lots of arthritis… but it could be worse! The pain and the stenosis in my spine causes me to be tired. But, so what, I can rest if I am tired! And most of the time I sleep well!

Think positive… you just never know…

I guess I would encourage others to think positive. You just never know! Six years ago I was a 78-year old newly diagnosed cancer patient who was very sick and very weak and had poor odds of surviving. But, by the grace of God and with the help of Dr. Matthews and his staff, I made it! So don’t give up… you just never know!

I would also encourage people to understand the value of family and friends when you go through something like this. I had my sister staying with me for a good part of the ordeal and even though my kids don’t live in this area they were very supportive and it was nice to know that they were thinking of me. And I have many wonderful friends. It’s hard for me to ask for help and I didn’t call on them too much but it was so reassuring to know that if I had asked for help I would have gotten it.

Finally…

Finally, try and believe and trust that there is some other greater force here!

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

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