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Cassandra FoyPatient with pancreatic cancer, stage IIB
Country:
 USA |
Content:
- Stage IIB Pancreatic Cancer Patient's Journey
- Seeking Specialized Care at CTCA
- Battling Side Effects and Finding Support
- Hector's Perspective and Support
- The Centralized Care at CTCA
Stage IIB Pancreatic Cancer Patient's Journey
Cassandra's Diagnosis and Initial TreatmentIn late 2012, Cassandra Foy, a 44-year-old who had been active and healthy, began experiencing shortness of breath, heartburn, indigestion, and back pain. After undergoing tests, she was diagnosed with a type of pancreatic cancer known as carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater. "I felt like I'd always taken good care of myself," Cassandra said.
The gastroenterologist referred Cassandra to a surgeon and oncologist, and she soon agreed to undergo the Whipple procedure (distal pancreatectomy). The surgery took place in March 2013.
Seeking Specialized Care at CTCA
A few months after her surgery, Cassandra realized she needed further treatment. Dissatisfied with her current care, she reached out to Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA). "I wanted to see what they had to offer," she said.
During her visit to CTCA, Cassandra met with Dr. Kliment, who convinced her she had made the right choice. "He said it was time to 'seal the back door,' to do everything possible to prevent the cancer from recurring," Cassandra explained. "I committed to CTCA for the rest of my treatment, and I had three more rounds of chemotherapy there."
Battling Side Effects and Finding Support
Cassandra experienced significant side effects from her aggressive treatment, but the skilled team at CTCA helped her manage them. She connected with the hospital chaplain, Phil, who provided encouragement to both her and her husband, Hector. A dietician, naturopath, social worker, and other specialists also supported her during her fight.
"As my treatment was ending, Hector and I clung more dearly to a hope we'd always had: We wanted to spend at least 50 years together," Cassandra said. "We wanted to see our kids go to college and start families of their own... That's still the plan."
Hector's Perspective and Support
Hector had been concerned when Cassandra started experiencing shortness of breath and various pains. He urged her to seek medical attention. "Cancer wasn't even on my mind, but I wanted my wife to be healthy," he said.
"Getting the diagnosis was frightening, but once we started investigating, there was no turning back," Hector continued. "I knew we were beginning a process that would help us figure out what was going on with Cassandra."
Hector made an effort to maintain his composure after the diagnosis, not wanting to upset Cassandra further. Instead, he focused on showing her he was there for her. Only when alone did Hector allow himself to "get emotional."
"The Whipple was a major, long surgery. I had confidence in the surgeon; I knew he would do the right thing," Hector said. "But when you know it's going to take 10 to 12 hours, you're going to be anxious for those hours. It ended up taking about six hours for Cassandra's surgery."
Seeing Cassandra after the surgery was the hardest part for Hector. He could tell how much she had been through and how much pain she was in. He wanted to stay overnight at the hospital so he could make sure Cassandra was getting the best care, leaving only when the nurses came on duty.
"I would go home, get the kids to school, take care of everything at home, and then head back to the hospital," Hector said. "It was a tough time, but eventually it passed."
The Centralized Care at CTCA
"Cancer care means a lot of running around—different specialists, different locations," Hector explained. "Even when all the doctors are in the same building, there's still a lot of moving. You have to keep track of which doctor is where. But at CTCA, every single physician came to us."
"Cassandra and I stayed put, and everybody came to us," Hector said. "I loved that. It created less stress and made us feel comfortable and confident. The physicians also spoke not only to Cassandra but also to me. They asked me questions. They saw me as part of Cassandra's care team, as someone who was on this journey with her."
Hector noted that the CTCA staff quickly learned his and Cassandra's names. Everyone greeted him each time he visited, even the staff in the hospital cafeteria. He described the "camaraderie" between patients and staff as incredibly positive and supportive.
"From the moment Cassandra started feeling ill, I knew I was going to do whatever it took to make sure she got back to good health," Hector concluded. "We were surrounded by loving, supportive people—people who believed she was going to be okay."
"Our youngest graduated high school while Cassandra was undergoing treatment," Hector added. "She was able to walk into the auditorium at his graduation because of the care she received at CTCA. She walked in slowly, yes, but she walked in."
