my cancer journey

by Carol Miller

​​In 1996, while my husband and I were grilling out with some friends, we girls decided we were overdue for a physical. Obviously the Lord was watching over as I made an appointment with our family doctor for that physical. The doctor felt what he thought was a large ovarian cyst. He sent me to a surgeon in Waterloo and by the end of the week I had surgery and found out I had Stage 1 ovarian cancer. To say the least, my husband was scared. This “C” word was new to me but not to my husband as he had lost his first wife to cancer of the tongue just 4 years earlier. Following surgery the doctor sent me onto Iowa City. We met with doctors there and following their tumor board meeting, it was suggested they operate again. I wasn’t excited about another surgery but am so glad I did as they found no more signs of cancer. Therefore this cut my chemo treatments from 6 to 3! Ovarian cancer is called the “silent killer” and I had no symptoms, so was thankful I went for that physical. Doctors since have been amazed at how my family doctor found that and how fortunate I was to have survived it.

I was feeling fine and coasting along when 10 years later I went for annual OB/GYN checkup. Following my mammogram I received a call that I should come in for an ultrasound. The doctor reading it saw a lump, but didn’t think it looked cancerous, but sent me onto Dr. Duven to get a biopsy. Dr. Duven also didn’t think it was anything, but after a long weekend I received the call that he wanted to talk to me. Both my husband and I knew this wasn’t good. We went to see him, and so in 2006 I was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. I elected to have a mastectomy, which was followed by 8 rounds of chemo treatments.

​I was regularly scheduled for checkups with both Dr. Singh, my oncologist, and Dr. Duven, the breast surgeon, along with annual mammograms. I had a mammogram in October, 2010, but in March 2011 I felt something suspicious with my right breast, so went to Dr. Duven – breast cancer again (just 6 weeks after I retired), I had a mastectomy and was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. My husband and I met with Dr. Singh at Cedar Valley Cancer Center and in determining the treatments to use, a decision was made to go to Mayo Clinic for another opinion. One doctor came in and said, “Carol, twice wasn’t enough – you had to go for 3 times.” I ended up taking 12 rounds of chemo treatments, followed by 33 radiation treatments in Waterloo.

I can say the Lord has been good to me as I have caught them in time, always pulled through each feeling fine. Again. I’ve lost my hair 3 times but it has always come back. The Lord has blessed me with great doctors and nurses. I can’t thank my husband enough for all the support he’s given me, always along on doctor appointments and treatments. I can almost write the book on the chemo treatments, although it brings tears when the nurses go over the side effect to me – again.

My husband and I have met so many others going through cancer, shared stories. Every cancer is different, never realizing there are so many types of breast cancer. Every treatment is different. At Mayo a doctor was scrolling through the computer screen looking for the right combination of chemo drugs for me, when he showed us the long, long list. In the last 16 years since my first cancer, and especially 20 years since my husband’s first wife passed away, there have been many new chemo drugs or better ways to administer them. Everyone reacts differently to treatments.

I will greatly encourage anyone going through cancer, but I can’t tell them how it will be for them I don’t know of another woman who has experienced breast or ovarian cancer the same way I did. Don’t shy away from someone going through cancer. If nothing else, they appreciate a listening ear. It’s never out of your mind. My husband and I have learned to enjoy life – NOW! If we want to do something, we don’t wait for another day, we do it now.

​I thank the Lord for seeing us through and thanks to all who supported both of us through these cancer journeys, especially prayers. “Blessing comes down when prayers go up.” 

read full newsletter