In her book, "I Can Do This," Beverlye Fead tells the story of the last year and a half of her life after she was diagnosed with Stage IV, metastasized, inoperable cancer. It's a day she says she will never forget.
The doctors spoke directly and clearly."This is what we suggest, Mrs. Fead: three weeks of heavy chemo in the hospital. You'll get very sick, lose your hair. When you've healed from that treatment, we will resection your stomach. It's a very slow recovery. Then, three more weeks of 24-hour-a-day chemo into the site. Let's see, this is Friday. We should schedule you for Monday. We can't miss this window of opportunity."
"And if I decide not to do this?" she questioned. "I'm not sure I could survive this, and I'm certainly not ready to give up my life as I know it by Monday."
I looked into the faces of those two bright young doctors as they answered my question. "We think you would have about two months."
Blur. White noise. So much of it I didn't hear, couldn't hear.
"And if I decide not to do this?" she questioned. "I'm not sure I could survive this, and I'm certainly not ready to give up my life as I know it by Monday."
I looked into the faces of those two bright young doctors as they answered my question. "We think you would have about two months."
Blur. White noise. So much of it I didn't hear, couldn't hear.
Beverlye says after that appointment, she went to another doctor, and it was as though the heavens opened. She began an experimental treatment of Femara and Lupron.
"I decided to do what was best for me. Other individuals must decide on and do what is best for them," she says.
Now, two years later, Beverlye says she is playing tennis, hiking the highest mountains, luxuriating in her grandchildren and relishing the richness of her life. She says all of her tumors are still in place.
"I live well with my cancer, and I think to myself, 'If I can do, there is hope you can, too.'"
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Posted 12:13pm December 10th, 2009Hi Beverlye,
One year, a friend and I were diagnosed with cancer simultaneously--she with bowel and me with head & neck. The cancer in my friend was not eradicated and we chatted at length after a doctor's appointment at which she was told there was nothing more they could offer. She asked me, "what now?" and I said, "Mary Beth, your diagnosis is the same as EVERY human's...this life isn't FOREVER. So, as long as you feel well enough, get up every morning, make a plan and go LIVE it!" Mary Beth played doubles tennis up until two weeks before she didn't feel like making any more plans.
I congratulate you on your discovery, on your spirit, on continuing to make a plan and going on to LIVE LIFE!