CANCER IN OUR LIVES

• Our lives became more challenging in the fall of 1995 when Karl was diagnosed with prostate cancer. After biopsy and bone scans, and a PSA score of over 50 (one of the highest seen by doctors here) it was thought that the cancer had spread to the bones and that surgery was not a good option.  A hormone treatment was implemented to stop the production of testosterone and thus slow the progression of the cancer.  A second opinion was sought, and while that doctor agreed with the first, he stated that if Karl would stay on that treatment for three months, then return for a bone scan, the diagnosis could be confirmed.  If the spots in the bone that seemed to be tumors shrunk during this time, it would confirm that they were indeed a metastasis of the prostate cancer, but if they remained unchanged, it would indicate that they were not related to the cancer.  At the end of the three month period, there was no change; thus it was determined that surgery could be done.  Surgery was scheduled for the day after the 1996 Super Bowl.  The Green Bay Packers were successful in that Super Bowl, and the surgery was also successful.  No chemo or radiation was needed, and Karl has been cancer free ever since.

• Once again, in August of 2002, our lives were complicated by the "Big C" when Carol began experiencing a number of symptoms that something was not right.  She was somewhat disoriented, experienced a loss of balance, and certain odors became nearly unbearable.  All this happened while we were visiting in St. Louis.  A trip to the emergency room in St. Louis resulted in an all-day session, finally ending with the determination that several brain tumors had developed.  A neurosurgeon met with us, and stated that he "thought" the tumors were a form of Lymphoma, but that a biopsy would need to be done to confirm it.  He prescribed some steroids that would limit the pressure on the brain for our trip back to Wisconsin, and an immediate appointment was made at the Vince Lombardi Cancer Center (VLCC) in Sheboygan, WI.

  

  • The oncologist at VLCC sent Carol to St. Luke's Medical Center in Milwaukee to consult with a Neurosurgeon, and surgery was performed to remove what they could of the tumors and determine the diagnosis.  By the time the surgery was to happen, all three sons and their wives were at our sides for support.  The surgery went well, and the biopsy showed that the tumors were indeed a form of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, in fact a very rare form of Lymphoma known as Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma (PCNSL).   When meeting with us after surgery, our oncologist said, "I have bad news and good news for you.  The bad news is that the tumors are very fast growing, and if we do nothing, they will be fatal in just a matter of weeks; BUT the good news is that we are NOT going to "do nothing", and also the good news is that some of the most aggressive forms of lymphoma respond very quickly to treatment."

  • Treatment was begun immediately, with very high levels of chemo, the decision having been made not to use radiation because of the probability of causing dementia.  Each chemo treatment was administered during a three day stay in the hospital followed by a week between each.  The tumors quickly became significantly reduced, and after the 6th treatment were unable to be seen in MRI's.  By mid-December we were ready to head off to Arizona for a three month "snowbird" session.

  • After two months in Arizona, the tumors returned, now to different parts of the brain causing significant nausea and imbalance and diminished capacity. We headed back to Wisconsin in February of 2003 for another round of treatment, now with an even higher dosage of chemo (Methotrexate, followed by Leucovorin to neutralize it).  Again the tumors were eliminated.  Our oncologist then followed with chemo administered directly into the center of the brain through a port in Carol's skull.  All of the chemo was tolerated well, and Carol's brain functions also returned to normal.

  • We purchased a new 5th wheel camper during the time Carol was undergoing her second rounds of chemo, and returned to Arizona the following winter.  Thanks to aggressive treatment by our oncologists as well as our continued prayers and the prayers of many others, Carol has now been free from the tumors since June, 2003, and the oncologist is now nearly ready to say that it is unlikely that the tumors will return. 

  • UPDATE NOV, 2006:  After meeting our oncologist in November, Karl was told that since he has been cancer free for over 9 years, he no longer needs to have future oncologist appointments.  Carol was told once again that he feels that it is very unlikely for her Lymphoma to return!

  • UPDATE MAY, 2007:  After an MRI, there was still no sign of cancer cells.

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The experiences we have had with cancer have been challenging, but if we were to given the opportunity to go back and choose, we would not choose differently.  The things that do not defeat us, are the things that serve to make us stronger.  We now live each day thankful for what every day that we have been given, giving thanks for the opportunities we have had!

Each year since, we have been participants in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, and with our partners in the Relay for Life have raised thousands of dollars to help make Cancer less of a threat.  Please consider joining a Relay for Life in your community.