Patient Story: Cathy
At the Cancer Institute, we witness incredible stories reflecting the courage, hope and resilience of cancer survivors every day. Today, we share the remarkable journey of Cathy Rhodes whose long battle began more than 10 years ago when she first noticed pain in her abdomen. After consulting with primary care and GI doctors who identified no problem, the situation then escalated when she noticed some bleeding. “They didn’t know what kind of problem it was. Maybe it was Irritable Bowel Syndrome?” Cathy said. “Honestly, I ignored it the first time. I didn’t want to go back to the doctors.” When the bleeding occurred a second time, however, Cathy sought the counsel of a gynecologist who ran tests and delivered a diagnosis of Stage 1 uterine adenocarcinoma — a type of cancer that develops in the glands that line internal female organs. Soon afterward, Cathy had surgery to remove the cancer and eight lymph nodes. At the time, she was told that all the cancer was gone and she would have no more problems. Three months later, however, the cancer had come back, more aggressive and bigger than it was before. At that point, Cathy turned to Larry Kilgore, MD at University Gynecologic Oncology. He recommended a “sandwich” treatment plan, consisting of four chemotherapy treatments, followed by 20 radiation treatments and concluding with four more chemotherapy treatments — all over the course of seven months. After meeting him, Cathy felt that seeking treatment under his care was the right thing to do. “I’m kind of a Pollyanna,” Cathy said. “I don’t think anything bad is ever going to happen. But you know, you just put your head down, hold your breath and get through it.” When her treatment plan ended, Kilgore informed Cathy that she still had a lymph node with a high radioactive count, and her medical team recommended that it be
treated with stereotactic body radiation on the CyberKnife. This non-invasive treatment delivers a high dose of precisely targeted radiation to destroy tumors. Cathy was also prescribed Avastin, an infusion treatment that helps stop the cancer from growing but doesn’t kill it. “By this time,” Cathy said, “I knew I needed to participate more in my survival.” Cathy calls herself a treasure hunter, and the treasure she sought in this case was information. She embarked on a journey of research and proactive engagement, embracing both traditional and holistic treatments. She integrated dietary changes and mental health practices into her regimen, and she gave up all alcohol. “I took responsibility for things I could control, like my diet,” Cathy said. “I had to ask myself, ‘What was it about my body that was hospitable to cancer?’ There is the ‘seed’ (the cancer cell) and the ‘soil’ (the environment of my body) in which it grew. Dr. Kilgore was focused on the seed; it was my job to address the soil. That was a turning point for me.” “A few months later, I had my first clean scan,” Cathy said. “The cancer was gone, and it never came back again. I believe the CyberKnife treatment and my super clean diet are what made the difference.” Now 69, Cathy and her husband Owen are retired and enjoy traveling and camping in their RV. They also volunteer — helping with visitor services with the National Parks Service — and have worked for three to four months at a time in parks like Bryce Canyon in Utah and San Juan Islands in Washington State. “Cathy has been a valiant and inspirational patient,” said Kilgore. “She is inquisitive and makes informed decisions but is not averse to trying new strategies. Hers has been a journey with quite a few bumps and bruises, but she is a survivor.”
Cancer Institute Annual Report | 11
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