PSC Column: Cancer: No One is Immune

07/11/2024

Written and submitted by Judith O. Hopkins, MD; SCOR Principal Investigator, Novant Health Cancer Institute – Kernersville

Cancer doesn’t care who you are, what occupation you have or what type of lifestyle you lead. Cancer is an “equal opportunity” disease. Cancer first entered our lives 14 years ago when my husband was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and started chemotherapy. As an oncologist, I was all too familiar with the side effects of chemotherapy induced fever, chills, neutropenia and fatigue. There were prophylactic antibiotics and frequent office visits. Friends made a huge difference with my husband’s therapy, sitting with him and transporting him home after therapy was completed.

July of 2015, I added cancer survivor to my resume. I received the call all women dread. “Your mammogram shows a nodule deep in your breast and you will need a biopsy.” The biopsy revealed invasive ductal breast cancer and I was started on letrozole, had a lumpectomy, and completed radiation therapy.

Too much knowledge of cancer and the toxicity of therapy can be challenging. I didn’t want radiation therapy and its small risk of lung or cardiac damage or the even smaller risk of angiosarcoma, but the benefits outweighed those risks and I proceeded with the recommended therapy. After 5 years I grappled with whether to stop letrozole or undergo extended endocrine therapy. I sought a second opinion at an academic medical center and accepted their recommendation to stop letrozole after 5 years.

We have tried to lead the recommended survivorship lifestyle over the ensuing years. My husband continues on oral chemotherapy which suppresses his immune system as does his CLL, and despite all the COVID vaccines, he took a birding trip and got COVID and nearly died, requiring a 2-week ICU stay and a ventilator and high flow oxygen. We stay away from red meat, eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily, try to get 7.5 to 8 hours of sleep daily, and do not use tobacco, marijuana, vapor cigarettes, carbonated beverages, or drink alcohol.

Despite our 2 cancers, we have been BLESSED and are enjoying life! – Hop and Judy Hopkins