The Forgotten Year Part II

      Dr. Russo was THE PERFECT DOCTOR for me!  He said exactly what I needed to hear and had the perfect bedside manner.  After looking at the biopsy results he peeked at his calendar and SAID, "okay I'll see you in three weeks for a lumpectomy."  Hugh?  Are you serious?  Is there any chance I could wake up looking different than than I do right now?(I didn't want any surprises you know!)....and then he said THE MAGIC WORDS,'WHEN YOU WAKE UP YOU COULD WALK                   
TO ME!!  

                across a beach naked and no one will ever know you had this procedure.'  I was shocked and yet elated at the same time!  'I'VE never walked across a beach naked,' I replied... But it's reassuring to know that IF I did I would appear no different than I do at this very moment!  and boy, was I relieved.

       When I tell you this was a wonderful man, a kind, soft spoken, gentle man whose HEart knew my HEaRt needed to be healed above all else. Three weeks had gone by and shortly after the procedure was over, Dr. Russo came into the room excitedly to tell me I was the first case of its kind he'd ever seen!  Although the biopsy results INITIALLY revealed early stages of ductile carcinoma, test results of the 1.7 mm removal of tissue the size of a golf ball said otherwise.  and I've been perfectly fine every since!


       Yes, it was a trying time for me.....  the removal of one lymph-node, and the radiation process I received for precautionary measure was hard on my body, but I am thankful for it could have been much more extreme!  I completed the 30 days of radiation as a precautionary measure.  It was kept minimal; I began my journey  as my love for life grew stronger...  My husband, my babies, church members who brought meals to my home, friends and family I could never thank enough.  I absolutely knew the Lord had a plan for me, and through the prayers of so many,I've come this far!


       Francis Hughes Medical Center in Stroudsburg, PA was the treatment center I decided to go to in that I needed to be close to home.  Our friend Sherry had the same experience as me but her husband advocated on her behalf by saying to the radiologist, "I expect my wife will only experience minor burns because in her case (such as mine) this was merely  a 30 day precautionary treatment.  Hearing this, I begged Sherry to ask her wonderful husband (a man I've never met) to please do same for me!  I begged and she laughed and said 'sure, I will'!


      Mind you, there is a cream that will undoubtedly keep you from blistering available to anyone that is anticipating radiation treatment.... It's called RadiaPlexRx Gel (still provided to me each time I go for my annual checkup and great for harsh sun exposure during the summer months) and the only reason it was given to me is because I knew I HAD TO ask for this product.  Sherry said, 'You have to ask or it will not be given to you'... I may very well not have been this lucky if it weren't for this endearing woman and her empathetic husband.


     This facility was wonderful for a number of reasons:
*Fast, individualized service provided by great technicians
*Most advanced radiation technology (only 8 machines in the country at that time) donated by Frances Hughes.(Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) & Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)—uses computer technology to optimize the delivery of radiation; the Hughes Cancer Center was one of the first cancer centers nationwide to offer IMRT and one the first 50 centers in the world to offer IGRT)
*low doses of radiation were targeted to a very small area.
*They offered yoga to patients once a week for one hour
*I was showered with $500 of cosmetics and a consultation on how       to properly apply my makeup.
*I've received free passes to Camel beach every June in honor of        Relay for Life Foundation, which includes food, family fun games and prizes. Water park passes for only $20.00.
*There were great people in my life who made this road much easier for me to travel and reminded me daily that I was never alone.
        Since then I have developed  a healthier diet, and continue to strive to stay strong and healthy. Other things you may want to consider are---


        *Praying (a time to pray has been proven effective--in 2005 a study showed that the recovery rate for individuals with cancer increased by 80% due to prayer by friends and family members).  This same study revealed that even when a person with cancer received prayer from another unknowingly, a 25% increase in cure rate was the outcome.  The key is to love yourself, practice good habits, make good and sound judgments, take lots of vitamin supplements (check with your doctor first) and think positive.... happy..... lighthearted thoughts......meditate from time to time and YOU will start to see a happier, healthier, fresh new you!


      Take time to read.........  even if its only ten minutes a day. Whatever it takes, clear your head and relax......


      If you choose to do nothing different for YOURSELF, then please please get your mammogram (whether you're a man or a woman) at the recommended age, and an ORAL cancer screening (at any age) if you are active.  Bare in mind, oral cancer is caused by a malignant bacteria and, therefore, this form of contact is no longer safe!  the ORAL CANCER SCREENING is FREE at the Francis Hughes Cancer Center in East Stroudsburg, PA.


https://www.poconohealthsystem.org/CREG/ClassDetails.aspx?sid=1&ClassID=1232

P.S. Dr. Russo has currently joined Blue Mountain Health Systems in Lehighton, PA.  Dr. Russo, you are my hero and I thank god I found you when I did! I dedicate this song to YOU and my Husband of thirteen years, and of course, Jesus Christ our savior...  Thanks a million......  Sharon




Old Testament:  O LORD my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me. (Psalms 30:2 NKJV)