No, I don’t have cancer, at least not that I know. But my niece does.
She’s not just any niece. She’s my only one, except for my niece by marriage. I have no nephews. I was 12 when she was born, and she was more like a precious little sister than a niece. While life’s circumstances and distance has reduced the amount of time we can spend together, I believe the bond we share is still strong.
So when she was diagnosed with lobular breast cancer almost a year ago and began a battle that has included the usual treatments along with a few complications, I began to research, trying to understand her journey. I have tried to encourage her and to let her know I’m thinking of her and praying for her. I’ve tried to do what I can, but it doesn’t seem to be enough.
Thinking about her situation and the others in my family and friends circle who have been touched by cancer made me want to do more. Being the teacher and writer that I am, it made me want to learn and inform. I want others who have not been touched by cancer to learn how to prevent it. I want those who have been affected by cancer to know they’re not alone and that research is ongoing to help fight this dreaded disease.
I interviewed a local cancer doctor and wrote an article for the local newspaper. What follows is the article. I hope you benefit from it in some way.
Ask anyone who has beaten cancer, and they are likely to tell you it is always in the back of their mind. No matter how many years have passed, they wonder if it will come back.
Ask anyone who has battled or is battling cancer, and you’ll hear stories as varied as the people telling them. There are similarities, of course, in treatment and the emotional impact, but cancer is not a “one size fits all” disease. Its impact depends on factors unique to each person.
The American Association for Cancer Research shares a calendar for National Cancer Awareness Months, which are every month of the year except December. The purpose of the designations is to raise awareness about cancer, promote education on the disease, and advocate for research, early detection, and better access to quality care for patients. September focuses on several types of cancer such as childhood cancer, leukemia and lymphoma, and prostate cancer. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is October.
That is the most common cancer seen and treated by Dr. Margaret Gore, hematologist/oncologist, of the Baptist Cancer Center in Union City. She has been practicing medicine in the clinic since 1997 when she relocated to the area from Memphis. In her practice, she diagnoses and treats patients referred to her by their primary care doctor as well as treats patients already diagnosed by a referring physician.
The staff at the center provides everything a patient needs, including surgery (done in another location) and chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy treatments. “The treatment is individualized,” she said. “We have a wide range of treatments depending on the biological markers found in the tumor and sequencing of the DNA.”
Colon or lung cancer ranks second in the number of conditions she sees, and while she and the staff provide surgical services and treatments for most cancers, lung cancer surgery is done elsewhere. After surgery, however, patients can receive treatment at the center. She does not limit patient care to those who are patients in the Baptist Medical Group. “If someone has surgery or is diagnosed somewhere like Vanderbilt, I work with their doctor. Our goal is to do what is best for the patient.”
A common misconception is that most cancers are due to genetics. Dr. Gore said only about 10 to 15 percent of cancers are due to genetics. Lifestyle choices are the leading causes. High fat diets, whether animal or plant fats, make a person more likely to develop cancers. Research indicates that people who exercise regularly are less likely to get cancer, and having as many as four servings of alcohol each day puts someone at a higher risk. She said the most preventable cancer is lung cancer since most cases are caused by smoking.
“If someone quits smoking,” she said, “the cancer risk reduces for each year following. After 20 years, the risk is the same as that of a non-smoker.”
In addition to high fat diets, insufficient exercise, and excessive alcohol consumption, smoked foods such as smoked sausage and smoked ham have been shown to be a link to gastral cancers. For women, hormone replacement therapy consisting of estrogen and progesterone therapy for more than five years increases a woman’s risk of breast cancer while short periods of estrogen-only therapy do not show much risk.
Dr. Gore emphasized the willingness the Baptist Medical Group has to provide care for people, even if their insurance is inadequate or if they have special financial need. Financial advisers will work with them and find resources to enable them to receive appropriate treatment. If someone has full medical coverage, there may not be a need for a separate cancer insurance policy, but she recommends people research to find out if they need the policy based upon on their financial need and major medical coverage.
Dr. Gore wants people to know that if they are diagnosed with cancer, they shouldn’t assume the treatment will be too horrible to endure. It depends on the person’s unique biological make-up. While some people may experience bad side effects, for others the side effects are mild. Immunotherapy, which has been used for about 25 years, normally does not cause sickness or pain, and radiation is well tolerated by most. “Fair-skinned people have more problems with radiation than darker-skinned people,” she said. “It also depends on the targeted area of the radiation. For example, if the radiation is in the neck area where the skin is thinner, it may be more uncomfortable than areas of the body where the skin is thicker.”
She said a positive attitude goes a long way in battling cancer. “There have been multiple studies that have shown that. That doesn’t mean someone has to be constantly cheerful. “You’re allowed to have moments of grief. But people who pick themselves up and say ‘Yes, I’m going to fight this’ do much better.”
Her final bit of advice is to those who sense that something is not normal, yet their doctor finds nothing out of the ordinary. “The squeaky wheel gets the grease,” she said. “If something feels not quite right, keep telling them. Doctors are not perfect. If you think something is not right, pursue it. You know your own body.”
Life As I know it 