Cancer Taught Me to Cope

I was lying on an uncomfortable gurney in the Emergency Department in Boston wondering how I got here. I visited my niece and nephew over the Christmas holidays, along with my sister and brother-in-law. We were shopping when I collapsed and unable to get up. My sister and niece supported me to the car, and my nephew took me to the ED. I was schedule to fly home to Ohio the following evening.

Once I hit the ED the staff immediately started various tests including ultrasounds and CTs of my back and legs. I had suffered balance problems for several years and paid a trainer weekly to help me with that. My legs constantly ached but my oncologist told me with my blood cancer (MDS) I was not getting the blood flow to the limbs. My back constantly hurt but I blamed that on the fibromyalgia I had fought for many years.

I was in the hospital overnight. An MRI on the brain ruled out a stroke so I was safe to fly. The PT and OT evaluated my gait which was uneven and gave me a walker to get me home, I was handed 17 pages from Massachusetts General to give to my PCP when I returned home.

I tried to get an appointment with my PCP right after I got to Ohio, but events went sideways. She could not see me for a week because of a terrible flu epidemic. I could not go outside because Ohio, like much of the country, was experiencing heavy snow during the 2026 blizzards.

I lay in my bed and on my recliner devastated. Since age 19, I have dealt with multiple infections and hospital stays caused by an immune disorder. I had been diagnosed with cancer at the age of 59 and had been fighting this awful disease with monthly treatments for 16 years. I was born with a severe hearing loss which dropped to profound because of some ototoxic chemo. I had always been active socially but presently had a tough time in larger groups and programs. Now I was collapsing and had trouble walking. Would this be the end of the road for me? Would I end up in assistive living or a nursing home unable to do anything? Would I eventually have to ask people to wait on me? This was too much to bear and I sank into a terrible depression.

But — one thought kept me going. Since I had coped with all the other situations, I knew how great people could be. My college friend of 55 years drove five hours in the extreme cold to bring food and stay with me during the first few days I was home. I was still alive from cancer after 16 years, which the doctors never thought would happen. If I overcame those problems, I could overcome this. Above all, I depended on my faith.

When I finally got into my PCP, she told me to start PT immediately and ordered a spinal MRI. She explained that if there was not a diagnosis there it may have just been an isolated incident, but I would be worried about it happening again and hoped they would figure out something.

Two hours after my spinal CT I received a call from the nurse. I had two herniated discs, bone spurs and spinal stenosis. When the nurse told me I stupidly asked if that could cause me to collapse and she said, “Oh yeah!”

The ball started rolling. I went to PT twice a week for seven weeks. It took a long time but gradually I got my strength back and one day it clicked. I could walk without my walkers and keep my balance. I was so excited when I wheeled in with my walker and told the staff it just came together and I was much stronger. They said that is common. When asked my goal I said to walk my little Jack Russell a half mile everyday like I had been doing for several years. I was cautioned just not to do it all at once! Then a compassionate and knowledgeable pain management doctor gave me cortisone shots in the spine and the relief was immediate.

I realized then it was cancer that taught me to cope. With the cancer I kept going on and endured tough treatments but knew I would have died without them. With the hearing loss I learned to cope by using an app transcribing on my cell phone that transcribed everything as it was being said! With the collapse I found a condition I never knew I had which was treatable.

I am different from before but better than I was. I still do my exercises and am going back for injections in three months. I am taking my dog for longer walks each week and she is happy. And an unexpected bonus was that with the awful weather and not going out I got my next book written!

Once again, I survived. Relying on my friends, family, church and the great medical professionals worked once more.

But — it was the cancer that taught me to take it one day at a time, seek good medical help and how to cope. I always say cancer is a tough teacher, but an effective one!

This piece reflects the author’s personal experience and perspective. For medical advice, please consult your health care provider.

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