Can "HungGarth" become a Butterfly? 

Very few of us live our lives without realizing that sometimes life throws you a curve. Or you might consider it another growth experience!! While going through our "growing experience," Bob and I certainly didn't mean to exclude anyone but sometimes when adversity hits, you need time to adjust. You never really know how you will react until it hits home!!

When we returned from our Bermuda cruise (right after Labor Day, 1997) we found out Bob had a tumor in his left lung. He had an upper backache and had lost a few pounds, however, his appetite was good and he certainly looked good especially with his newly acquired Bermuda tan. Since the backache was just that - an ache - we thought it was from a pulled muscle while exercising. Bob liked to exercise every day by going to the gym. Also there was a possibility that his blood sugar was off a little and that was causing the weight loss. No cough, blood, or chest pain. But when you come home from a cruise and you've lost weight, you sort of suspect there might be a problem!!

Anyway, a physical was ordered. The initial chest X-ray in September showed the tumor to be the size of a softball. Again really unbelievable considering no other signs. Bob went through all sorts of tests - CAT scans, bone scans, blood work and more Xrays and biopsies. It was finally determined that it was Squammous cancer of the lung. Bob called it "HungGarth" because the name squammous was an ugly name, it was always hungry, and it was a monster. Thankfully, the bone, lymph glands, voice box, and brain scan were clear. Lung cancer usually spreads to the brain. First doctor who read his Xray told him- "tumor is so large just go home and get your affairs in order." I thank God he was a covering doctor and not one of our wonderful medical team.

Being stoic Irish with a very strong faith, Bob handled it "business as usual." He said it was not the first time he has had a tragedy to overcome (when he lost his eyesight and his 9-yr. old daughter), and hopefully it won't be the last. It was hard for him to talk about it sometimes and then sometimes he would make jokes about it. Just didn't want people feeling sorry for him. Sort of had to take your queue from him. He enjoyed when people called and left a good joke on his voice mail.

He continued working full force and we were very fortunate that we had a highly technical office already setup at home. We had extra telephone lines, computers, fax and Xerox machines. We had developed a good real estate team - daughter, Shannon, is our full-time assistant, son-in-law Andy Stratton is our prospector, daughter, Allison Hogan, does Open Houses and sister, Pat Schoeler, does our web site photography. With our team, our customers had 24-hour coverage. In November Bob was #1 producer in Coldwell Banker. That's not easy to do without cancer and chemo!!

Important during chemo treatment to stay away from people with germs so better to work at home, as during the winter flu season in an office environment germs just continue to circulate around through the vents.

We never asked how long he has had it or where it came from. It doesn't change anything. For what it's worth, Bob gave up cigarettes over 15 years ago.

Let me tell you, chemo didn't stop him!! While undergoing chemo he amazed the nurses by answering his pager, using his cell phone, and working in his wizard. After one chemo treatment - which started about 11:15 a.m. and lasted until 6 p.m. - we were at a customer's house at 7 p.m. negotiating a good contract. I gave him bone marrow shots starting 48 hours after chemo, and he got vitamin IVs once a week. (Remember I'm not a nurse and me with a needle is probably the most dangerous thing in the world.) Also took other high potency vitamins and some Chinese herbs. He would feel down about 48 hours after chemo for a few days. At that time, he felt as if he had a bad case of flu.

In his weekly radio address on December 27, President Clinton said "Nearly every American family has been touched by the shadow of cancer. By detecting cancer early on, we offer our loved ones one of the greatest gifts of all - the gifts of life, health and many holidays to come... We're ringing in the new year resolved to take new steps in our battle against cancer, one of mankind's oldest foes."

On December 17, after 4 rounds of chemo, Bob had another CAT scan. Dr. Lowenthal, our oncologist who trained at Sloan Kettering, read all scans and Bob's tumor has shrunk OVER 60% from the first CAT scan done at time of initial diagnosis. He said whatever we're doing - to keep doing - because something is working. As I mentioned before, with Dr. Lowenthal's permission, along with conventional chemo, we have been utilizing complementary medicine with Dr. Munits, with daily supplements (antioxidants), weekly vitamin IVs, Chinese herbs, prayers, exercise, and lots of friendship, laughter, and love.

On Monday, December 22, with Dr. Lowenthal's blessing, we had an appointment for a second opinion with Dr. Joseph Aisner from The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) in New Brunswick. Dr. Aisner is a specialist in lung cancer and has been involved with worldwide research. Very impressed with the Center - thorough examination. Would suggest anyone diagnosed with cancer go there for a second opinion.

After discussions, it was the opinion of both specialists that Bob's next stage of treatment should be radiation. An operation was ruled out for a few reasons. First, the most recent scan showed the tumor (affectionately referred to as "HungGarth") has shrunk about 60% and has changed consistency from firm to a somewhat liquid blob. Doctors are not quite sure what they would find if they operated - maybe just dead sludge?

Second, "HungGarth" was originally growing close to the Aorta - which we all know is a major artery around the heart. Any surgery involving this sensitive area is risky. Since such positive results have been achieved using chemo, why go in and shake things up. This is a big decision because usually once you start radiation you can't operate because scar tissue forms. According to recent national studies, in some cases radiation and surgery have had equal results.

According to the doctors usual treatment choices for lung cancer are either chemo, surgery, radiation OR chemo, radiation and no surgery. Each case is different.

 Radiation treatments were on an outpatient basis - every day (except weekends) for six weeks at Overlook Hospital. First consultation was December 31. There were about 5 appointments where they build the radiation beam from CAT scans to the specifications of your particular tumor and then they do a simulation. Radiation treatments began January 13.

During this time our baby black lab, Kristie Marie, died on Tuesday, January 6, from a fast growing stomach tumor. She was 13 1/2 years old and our very favorite pet ever. Guess it was only natural but couldn't help but feel Bob identified with her sudden illness a little too much!!

But our "HungGarth" was not to be totally beaten at this point. On SuperBowl Sunday, Bob broke out with shingles. Anyone who has had shingles will tell you how painful they are. Seems shingles disease comes from the chickenpox virus we have in our own bodies and seems to come out when your immune system is low. Naturally he didn't just get them in the normal spots (across the back and stomach) he also got them down his right arm and in his voice box. We were lucky - people have gotten shingles on their face and in their eyes. So at this point, Bob had shingles, radiation every day, chemo once a week, and still continued to work. It did kind of knock the stuff out of him. His appetite went a little weird. Sort of like a pregnant woman. One minute he wanted a steak and next he wanted white, American cheese. Seems radiation and chemo will do this.

Radiation finished the end of February. But "HungGarth" said "ha, ha" I"m not finished yet. Bob started to run a strange fever. It ran from 99 to 102.5. Doctors tried two different antibiotics and they didn't seem to work. At this point they decided to put Bob in the hospital for more tests. They did every blood test known, more CAT scans, and another lung biopsy. They found that it was a form of pneumonia caused by the radiation that had caused the lungs to get inflamed. However, from all these tests, the Doctors said that Bob is definitely a survivor - "HungGarth" the tumor is dead!!!

Also have to mention that by Christmas Bob had lost all his hair. I kept saying how good he looked bald and he kept saying he didn't know why I was making such a thing about his hair - that he didn't have any hair to begin with!! Anyway, his hair has grown back and has even come in a little darker.

You never know until you go through it how many people are or have been affected by cancer. They now say 4 out of 10 people are involved. There was a show on Larry King recently and I couldn't believe the celebrities that have been affected. There is a big march being scheduled for September, 1998, in towns all over America for cancer survivors and victims' families. This should be very impressive!!

Now the answer to the question Can "HungGarth" become a Butterfly? HungGarth changed our lives for the better. The dictionary tells us a caterpillar is the wormlike larva of the butterfly. Since HungGarth, and the growing experiences we had to share, changed our lives for the better, I guess you could say HungGarth did become a butterfly.

We are grateful for the love, caring, protection, and support from our family, friends, and our valued customer. We thank the wonderful people who have endured and survived cancer and have shared their experiences so freely with us. We feel blessed and fortunate that we were been able to carry on and even excel at times. We made a personal commitment that if we beat this thing we would stand up among other survivors and tell people more about what we have gone through and how your attitude really makes the difference!!!!

We want to use our web site to promote the cause of cancer and to feature the wonderful survivors who are out there. We want anyone who knows of someone who would like to share their story with others to write us. If you don't want you don't have to sign the article. We just want to share!!