I believe that all people are touched by cancer in one way or another, either you have a grandparent, parent, child, sibling, friend, yourself or someone you know that has had to deal with this horrible diagnosis. Our family happens to have experienced most of the scenarios, and for the most part, we came out on top because of early detection and perseverance on treatment.We have proved that you can have some of the worst “luck” and still be some of the luckiest people.
When Lance was around 15 months old, his Dad noticed that he had a very slight lag in his walking.We went for a well check and everything checked out okay.Not long after that his eyes would not seem to focus like they should.We took him to an ophthalmologist who said he probably just had a virus and if we were still noticing it in a month or two, to have him rechecked. One evening when we were finishing supper, his eyes rolled up like he was trying to focus on the ceiling, and then we knew that something was seriously wrong.We called Dr. Maroun, Lance’s pediatrician, and she met us at the hospital and ordered a CTscan.The scan showed that he had a tumor the size of a golf ball by his brain stem.
Dr.Maroun made arrangements for us to go to Sioux Falls where we were admitted that night to start IV medication to prepare for surgery.He was diagnosed with an astrocytoma, and treatment was total removal of the malignant tumor.
February 15, 1999 was the first surgery with a general neurosurgeon that did not go well.The surgeon interrupted a blood sinus and Lance hemorrhaged.For the next week, he had cerebral spinal fluid leaking from the incision site at the back of his head, was on hourly Demerol for the pain, and had to have several blood transfusions. One neurosurgeon questioned that some tumor may still be present on the post-surgical MRI, but the original surgeon quickly discredited the possibility of any remaining tumor. Another surgery was done to patch the area of the cerebral spinal fluid leak.
Lance had to wear a helmet at all times except sleep time to help protect his incision area from any type of injury. This was also very stressful, with four siblings at home, we were constantly worried about him getting injured. For the next six months, we would do routine rechecks and MRI’s.The surgeon said that the artifact that was seen on MRI was only what was used to stop the hemorrhage, and that the tumor had been completely removed.We were told that Lance’s coordination would not be the same and such things as riding a bike would be very difficult for him.
Lance’s eyes were now not focusing together at all.We saw another ophthalmologist that said it was probably nerve palsy from the surgery and would improve with time. He advised wearing an eye patch to strengthen the muscles.
We decided that it was time to get second opinion, we still believed that there was tumor remaining. Dr. Maroun set up for us to see a pediatric neurosurgeon in Rochester.On October 2, 1999 Dr. C Raffel performed another surgery to remove a substantial amount of remaining brain tumor and we were discharged 5 days later with a much happier child.
We were than referred to a pediatric ophthalmologist in Rochester that prescribed glasses in an attempt to aid Lance’s eye muscles. After a trial of wearing glasses, there was no improvement. On February 25,2000 surgery was performed on both eyes to correct the muscles. We did check-ups every six-months for the first few years, than yearly and we are now on every two year checks. With astute observation, having a Mom that worked for the pediatrician, persistence in seeking another opinion and never giving up hope – Things turned out great.
Lance is tumor (cancer) free, rode a bicycle by the time he was 4 years old, has 20/20 vision and is a smart outgoing 11 year old.
We are truly blessed.
Lance and his family feel very honored that he was chosen as one of the honorary co-chair for the heart and sole cancer walk/run.
“Cancer changes your life, often for the better. You learn what's important, you learn to prioritize, and you learn not to waste your time. You tell people you love them. If it wasn't for the downside, having cancer would be the best thing and everyone would want it(If it wasn't for the downside).Because it helps make you appreciate what you have and may have taken for granted otherwise.”
Tyler Easton - story soon...
Stacy Morgan
Shortly after my 40th birthday, I scheduled my first mammogram. Life was busy, and I was sure it was just a routine test and then life would be back to normal. Little did I know how that day would change my life! The technician spotted an irregularity right away and proceeded to take more images. The next morning I was scheduled for an ultrasound. That’s when I realized something was wrong. The doctor proceeded to do a biopsy. Then the waiting began. It was a long couple of days, but I held on to hope. Dr. Tjarks called me into his office a couple of days later. My husband, Scott, and I listened in disbelief as Dr. Tjarks told me the results of the biopsy. Things moved quickly from there on out. I met with Dr. Leland, Dr. Margallo, and Dr. McHale, my oncologist in Sioux Falls. Surgery was set for October 2nd, the day after my 15th wedding anniversary. I had a right mastectomy and several lymph nodes removed. One of those was positive. Shortly after, I was scheduled for another surgery to remove the rest of the lymph nodes. All those nodes were negative. On November 10th, my chemotherapy treatments began. When all is said and done, I will have completed sixteen treatments. I will hopefully have my last chemo treatment on April 17th. From there, Dr. McHale will gene test me to decide any further precautions that we need to take.
I was born and raised in Mitchell, married a fellow Kernel, and my best friend, Scott Morgan. We have three beautiful children, Cole 14, Connor 10, and Payton 7. I am lucky to have my parents, Reginald and Olive Martin, my sister, Julie Haiar, my brother, Brad Martin, here in town, and my brother, Dave Martin, in Sioux Falls. Most of Scott’s family lives close to us too. They have been here for me throughout this journey. My family is my rock!
I feel so blessed to have the support of the Mitchell community. I drew on the strength of my faith, my family, my friends, and my students. My co-workers at L.B.Williams, and my fellow teachers in the MitchellSchool District have been so amazing…from providing suppers for the family, words of encouragement, covering extracurricular activities when I was sick after treatment, helping to plan lessons for my substitute, to covering my class for me when I needed to be gone. I appreciate their support more than words can ever say!
I want to thank the Heart and Sole Cancer Walk for the opportunity to chair this event. I am honored and hope that my story inspires at least one woman to schedule a mammogram-early detection saved my life!
Ronda Vetch
Thank-you to the Heart & Sole committee for selecting me as one of the 2009 Honorary Co-Chairs. This comes at a time in which I have recently celebrated my 5th anniversary as being a cancer survivor so this is truly an honor.
I got my first baseline mammogram at the age of 40. I got my second mammogram at the age of 42 but for some reason I put off getting my third mammogram until I was almost 45.
I was to schedule it right after the holidays but I just kept putting it off thinking breast cancer does not run in my family so I wasn’t too worried about it. But on October 2, 2003, I received a call from my doctor (just having had my third mammogram 2 hours earlier) saying he needed to see me in his office that evening. He told me something showed up on the mammogram. My husband John and I went to see the doctor and there set up a time for the next day (which was our 22nd wedding anniversary) to see a surgeon. After visiting with the surgeon I was scheduled to have a biopsy done a few weeks later.
During this time my husband was scheduled to have surgery on his hand at the Mayo Clinic. John’s surgery was to be on a Wednesday and my biopsy was scheduled that Friday. The surgeon did not know if my husband would be out of the hospital by that Friday so they told us to go home and take care of my situation first as that was more important. Before we left the Mayo Clinic my husband asked "As long as we are here would you want to get a second opinion?” At first I said no but then later on decided to try and see one of the cancer doctors there. I was set up for the following day to see a doctor, have another mammogram, an ultrasound, and tissue taken from the sight. By the end of the day and after all of the tests my doctor told us that it was cancer. At first it was hard to believe but as my husband and I held each other and I cried the reality set in. On the way home the next day I knew I had to face whatever it was going to take to beat this. I had three children that we had to break the news to: Rachel then 20 and in college; Ashley 18 and Tyler 14 both at home. The next thing was to decide where I was going to have my surgery. I lay in bed one night from 3:30 a.m. until 7:30 a.m. trying to decide. Finally, I asked God for help and that I needed a sign as to where I needed to go for the surgery. After getting up and taking our dog for a walk the Mayo Clinic entered my mind and I felt this huge feeling of relief go through my body. It was a feeling I will never forget! I had my sign from God and set up to have my surgery at the Mayo Clinic the following week.I had a lumpectomy where they removed a 1.8 cm tumor (Stage 1 invasive carcinoma) and 4 lymph nodes that tested negative. After removing the tumor and tissue around it the Pathologist in surgery had them remove more suspicious-looking tissue to broaden the margins. Thank goodness the Pathologist was in surgery with me!
I took three weeks off from my work at LifeQuest. I began my treatments at the Avera Queen of PeaceCancerCenter. I received four rounds of chemotherapy once every four weeks beginning in November 2003 –January 2004. I received follow-up radiation therapy five days a week for seven weeks ending in April 2004. It was so good to be able to go to work and then after work go in for the treatments. Just having a purpose to get up in the morning and go to a job really helped me in keeping focused on my work and not just the cancer and treatments.
I have a mammogram done every year now, have follow-up checkups every six months with Dr. Haq, and see my family doctor once a year. I have been on the Tamoxifen pill for the past five years as well.
I have so many people to thank over the past five years that have always been there for me and supported me. My wonderful family John, Rachel, Ashley, and Tyler, friends, co-workers, doctors, and a special sister-in-law that went through breast cancer one year before me. She helped in guiding me through the journey as someone who lived it also. I was very fortunate to have caught the cancer early. My faith, a positive attitude, and that I lived my life as normal for me and my family as much as I could contributed to how well everything went.
Over the past years I have been asked to talk about my experience and share my story. The DailyRepublic featured a story about me beating cancer, an article was written for the Avera Queen of Peace Cancer Center Annual Report and in the Health Matters about my story, and I spoke to the Cancer Support Group. I also was asked to speak at the SalemSchool grades 8-12, not only about my experience with cancer but also how my children reacted throughout the cancer and the treatments.
I speak out and share my story because I cannot express enough the importance of getting your mammograms, visiting your doctor, and doing self breast examinations. The mammogram is what caught my cancer early!!
