'No symptoms, no family history.'
Local cancer victim speaks out

By Misti Strader
Tribune-Courier News Editor
mstrader@tribunecourier.com

In this four-part series, the Tribune-Courier takes a closer look at the lives of four local residents who say their experiences at Marshall County Hospital was life-changing.

BENTON – Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.

While the disease is expected to take the lives of more than 26,000 women this year alone, Marshall County native Sue Roberts, said she refuses to be one of those victims.

Her battle began a little over two years ago.

“I had gone to see my physician, Dr. Terri Telle, to have my annual exams,” Roberts recalled. “She suggested that at my age (65), I should go have a colonoscopy performed, and so that is what I did.”

Roberts said she elected to go to Marshall County Hospital for the procedure. She expected it to be nothing more than a routine procedure.

“I had no risk factors, no symptoms and no family history of colorectal cancer,” Roberts stated.

It was one week later that Roberts received a call from Marshall County Surgical Physician, Dr. Robert Beale.

“He told my husband they had found cancer and we needed to come in to see him for a meeting,” Roberts said.

The diagnosis was unexpected.

“It was very, very traumatic to find out I had cancer. I have never been obese, never smoked or drank much, always exercised, always eaten well, and always done all the things you are supposed to do to be healthy. I could not understand why this was happening to me.”

According to the National Cancer Society, cancer of the colon and rectum can exhibit itself in several ways and may or may not cause symptoms.

However, the following have been associated with the diagnosis of colorectal cancer: rectal bleeding, fatigue and pale skin; abdominal distension (a noticeable protrusion of the stomach); abdominal pain; unexplained, persistent nausea or vomiting; unexplained weight loss; change in frequency or character of stool (bowel movements); small-caliber (narrow) or ribbon-like stools; sensation of incomplete evacuation after a bowel movement; and, while rare, rectal pain.

Studies suggest that the average duration of symptoms from onset to diagnosis is just 14 weeks.

There is no known association between overall duration of symptoms and the stage of a tumor.

After the diagnosis of Roberts’ cancer, she was scheduled for surgery almost immediately at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, Tenn.

After the procedure, Roberts said doctors assured her they believed the cancer had been successfully removed. They reported no sign of cancer being found in neighboring cells or lymph nodes.

They advised her that cancer treatment was no longer necessary.

“So,” she said, “I did not take any more treatment. One year later and my cancer was back.”

This time, Roberts went to see Dr. Charles Winkler in Paducah, where she has been in treatment since January 2007. She also underwent a second surgery at Western Baptist Hospital.

Once home from her surgery, Roberts found herself in need of assistance from a home health-care provider and once again, she said she chose to utilize the services of Marshall County Hospital.

“After my second surgery, their home health care nurses came to care for me in my home. They were so wonderful to me. Those women were just precious. They came every day and on weekends. They cared for my wounds and worked with me no matter what I needed.”

To date, Roberts has undergone one year of chemotherapy and 32 radiation treatments.

While she said she has no outlook for a cure, she is staying optimistic about her future.

“Dr. Winkler said it like this; ‘We are in a marathon, and we are fighting this cancer battle by battle.’ “That is how I am living my life, one day and one battle at a time.”

Roberts said through this experience, she has learned a lot of lessons.

“I feel like I need to tell as many people as I can that when you get to be 50 or if you have symptoms or a family history of colon cancer— go and get checked, it could save your life.

“I also look at life very differently. Instead of worrying about what is going to happen in the future, I try to get the most that I can out of every single day. I only choose to do the things that I really want to do, after all, I have an excuse now,” she said with a laugh. “If it is something I don’t really want to do, I just don’t do it.

Looking back, Roberts said she realizes now that she made the same mistake many others are making today.

“I was working full-time in education and thought that I never had time to take a day or two off to go have tests done. It was one of those things I just never got around to doing. I saw on TV where they advised you to get a colonoscopy when you turn 50, but I thought that did not apply to me.”

Roberts said the diagnosis of cancer has changed her life in many ways, including her relationship with God.

“I have been on a Christian walk most of my life and have been on a closer walk the last 20 years. But there have been days where I’ve been mad at him. From this experience, I have learned that God has been so good to me because I have so many blessings. I have not been very sick with the treatments and I have still been able to get around and enjoy life. Those are my blessings.”

Roberts said with strong family support, wonderful doctors, and the devotion of her church family and friends, she is remaining strong through her battle.

“At the point that I really dealt with having cancer, I realized that I had a choice, I could either stay home and cry about it or I can try to go on with my life. So, that’s what I have chosen to do, live every day I have to the fullest.”

“I want to thank the people at Marshall County Hospital for being so wonderful during this time. They always make me feel important, not like I am just a number to them. They even know my name when I walk in. Dr. Beale has also been a God send. It is wonderful to have such a caring Christian man as a doctor. There have been many times when he has prayed for me right there in his office. That has been so important to me. I have had excellent doctors in other hospitals, but Dr. Beale is really something special. This hospital really does have a story to tell and anything that I can have done here, I certainly will.”
Sincerely,
Sue Roberts