Strong Survivor: Corinne Evans Wise

I was hard at work on my first batch of fundraising letters the day after our Kickoff Party. Will wandered over from his cubicle and discovered me piecing together words and phrases. He patiently waited until I had a letter to hand to him; then surprised me by giving me my first donation on the spot.

During our bantering, he revealed that his mother was a cancer survivor. Which led to me asking him for a personal statement about having cancer in the family two weeks later.

Yah, I'd love to do that. It will take me a while, because it's a subject with many details and a little soul searching. I'm feeling a little better already.

A week later, I had two great testimonials in my inbox. You can feel the strength that Mrs. Wise's words exude.

It is imperative that we get the word out that cancer is not an automatic death sentence. I had an "inoperable sarcoma" that was successfully treated and I am alive 8 years later. In every book, every movie, the cancer patient dies. It makes for a good tear jerker, but sends such a wrong message. So, when people hear "cancer", they give up. I wish that I had seen a "Relay For Life" during or before my cancer. That is the kind of strengthening message that needs to be publicized. HUNDREDS of
people walking the track that are cancer survivors!

Also, something HAS to be done about small-time doctors that do not encourage patients to seek treatment at big centers. So many say "there is nothing that they will do there that we can't do here." BULL!! (I seriously think that they see dollar signs in the number of useless treatments, at the expense of a patient that they will see die.)

My cancer, a sarcoma, is a type that an ordinary doctor may see maybe three times in his or her lifetime. I went to M.D. Anderson, where they treat sarcomas every day. I had an operation that involved a vascular surgeon, a pancreatic surgeon, a sarcoma surgeon, and an abdominal sarcoma surgeon. Before the surgery, my case was reviewed by a committee that consisted of radiologists, renal specialists, vascular specialists, and sarcoma specialists. My "home" doctor had told me that if they did surgery, it would kill me. But he was only a general surgeon, and not a team of specialized surgeons.

Then, I had what is known as a "Whipple" surgical procedure. A regular surgeon may do one or two in their lifetime. At M.D.Anderson, they have guys so specialized that they do them every day, and so highly specialized that all they do is pancreatic surgery, or liver surgery, etc. -- several a week!! So the success rate is phenomenally high. Also, most Whipples have very problematic complications that go on for years. Because M.D.Anderson does so many, they have it down to a science, and I can eat anything, and have no "bowel" problems. I haven't had any aftereffects.

Also, M.D.Anderson has a holistic program that involves meditation, centering prayer, support groups, etc, etc.. That is provided by their "Center of Wellness". They promote everything from green tea, to Tai Chi.

Have I gone on long enough? I am a very grateful survivor, and will help in any way to get the word out. I went from a death sentence to a full, pain-free life. Contact me any time.

-- Corinne Evans Wise