Cancer and CMT

Do what you have to and get it over with
By M.F., U.S.A.
This has been a very mixed year, emotionally for me. The biggest joy was discovering CMT International and finding out about my CMT. I have told everyone I know about your wonderful and informative newsletter. The down part of this year is that I found out in September that I have breast cancer, when a lump was removed (which is okay because I have beat everything else that has tried to knock me down). Thank the Lord for my wonderful doctors. In this day and age you only hear complaints about how uncaring doctors are, well let me tell you…

When I first met with Dr. Michael Figueroa, my chemo doctor, the first thing he noticed was my curved finger. He asked it if was arthritis and I said no, CMT. Well, what a door that opened. We spent the next hour discussing CMT and what kind of treatments I could have. I took him all my newsletters; he called doctors, authors and probably you, for more information. He ruled out radiation, period (the radiologist did not seem concerned about CMT when I saw him). This doctor has taken my case to the hospital tumor board for advice and talked to everyone he could for more information. The end result is that I am going to have the breast removed and will just take the cancer medicine with probably no other treatments. I feel so lucky that I did not get a doctor who said, "This is what we have to give you and you will have to just live with the side effects."

Between my surgeon and chemo doctor I feel very secure. I shudder to think of what would have happened if no one took an interest in my CMT.

I have told all the doctors that my oldest son is getting married in a few months' time in Ohio, and I expect to be there looking like the mother of the groom, so do what you have to and get it over with as I have a big date.