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Lucy’s Story
In her own words
MammoSite patient of Cancer Center of North Dakota and breast cancer survivor.

One day last spring, my routine mammogram indicated an abnormal area. It was confirmed by Ultrasound, and a biopsy revealed a malignancy. I was stunned. I felt like I had been dropped into the middle of a nightmare and I was filled with fear and apprehension of what my future held.

I clarified my options with Elizabeth Ring, a physician’s assistant at my hometown clinic in Crookston , Minnesota . The next step was to confer with my doctor, Ida Afonya, a surgeon at Riverview Health. He said my choices were mastectomy or lumpectomy, followed by six or seven weeks of radiation. Mastectomy removes the entire breast, lumpectomy removes only the tumor; radiation is used to ensure the cancer is eliminated. Lumpectomy was my preference, but I couldn’t imagine being tied down by seven weeks of radiation, not to mention the daily drive back and forth from Crookston to Grand Forks for treatment.

Fortunately, my daughter Katy had seen a magazine article about MammoSite®. Dr. Afonya was aware of the treatment option but had never done the installation procedure. He referred me to the Cancer Center of North Dakota; they assessed my situation and clarified my choices in a thorough and understandable way. We discussed my preference for lumpectomy and MammoSite radiation. Dr. William Noyes, Cancer Center of North Dakota’s radiation oncologist, performs the MammoSite procedure. He explained that the treatment was a possibility for me, but the availability was questionable. In order to be a candidate for MammoSite, a number of things had to come together. First, my tumor had to be smaller than a certain size and located in a specific area. Second, the lymph nodes must be clear. And third, a surgeon found who would be willing to do the set-up.

Time passed and the plan was still unclear, so my lumpectomy was scheduled. The result of the surgery was encouraging: the tumor was small, the margins seemed clear, and the sentinel node unaffected. I was still a candidate for MammoSite. Then, the other shoe dropped. The final pathology showed some cancer cells left in the margins, and I would need further surgery.

My second surgery was scheduled several weeks later. To my delight, the possibility for MammoSite treatment still existed. The surgery was successful, and Dr. Afonya installed the catheter necessary for the radiation delivery at the same time. I was finally ready, and it would soon be over!

My MammoSite treatment began within a few days. It was painless, and each treatment took about 30 minutes due to scans and x-rays needed to confirm proper placement. The radiation procedure itself took only five minutes each time. I went twice a day for five days, and it was all over!

At first I was apprehensive, but my fears were allayed by Dr. Noyes and his wonderful staff at Cancer Center of North Dakota. Dr. Noyes is capable and reassuring. Lynn, Nick and Nancy were so caring and compassionate that coming in each time was comfortable and stress-free for me. It would be hard to find an oncologist more personable and knowledgeable than Dr. Cambereri, and I will continue to see him.

Heaven forbid my cancer returns, but, if it does, I would put myself back in the hands of the great professionals at Cancer Center of North Dakota. Their expertise and compassionate care made my ordeal as pleasant as possible.

I also am very thankful for my family. I live alone in the home my late husband and I built, and I am the mother of seven grown daughters. My dear daughters are always a blessing, and they came through for me. One by one, they came and stayed with me; distracted me from my worries; accompanied me to appointments; made phone calls and did research. They provided love, encouragement and support at a time when I needed it badly. I will always be so grateful to them.

I love travel, music, watercolor painting and gardening, and I am confident that I will have many years of enjoying the people, hobbies and interests in my life.

Patient Backgrounder
Tom
On-Board Imaging Patient

Tom, 60, is the first North Dakota resident to receive On-Board Imaging treatment for his prostate cancer.

After regular check ups, Tom’s PSA (prostate-specific antigen) was high and going up. Tom was also experiencing other complications, inspiring his home physician in Devils Lake to refer him to a specialist for further testing. The biopsy found that he had prostate cancer.

The specialist wanted to perform surgery, but Tom wasn’t convinced that was the right option for him. He self admittedly “kept it under his hat so I could decide what to do,” and he began researching for another solution. After talking with other prostate cancer survivors and spending hours online searching for treatment options, Tom determined he wanted to undergo proton treatment in California. He felt this treatment was his best option since he couldn’t find the most up-to-date equipment in the area. He was, however, not excited about traveling to California for five to six weeks for treatment.

When he first started his research, Tom had made an appointment with William Noyes, radiation oncologist at Cancer Center of North Dakota. He didn’t keep the first appointment he made, but he decided to see him before committing to the proton treatment. At that appointment, Tom discovered that the most up-to-date treatment he needed was in Grand Forks . Cancer Center of North Dakota had just installed its On-Board Imager, which pinpoints and treats the cancerous tumor within a fraction of a millimeter, virtually ignoring the healthy tissue surrounding it.

Tom has owned Lamotte’s Glass and Paint for nearly 40 years, keeping him busy in business and in the community. Despite the demands of his business, he wanted the best treatment for his cancer. When he discovered CCND offered On-Board Imaging, and after discussing the options with his family, his choice was clear: “why would I go out of state when I had the most up-to-date process that I could get right here an hour and a half away?”

Tom’s treatments lasted around 15 minutes each and were complete after 39 visits. “I never felt a thing,” says Tom. “I was never sick; I didn’t miss work with the exception of the time needed for each appointment. The staff at the Center made me feel confident, secure and they became my buddies. Dr. Noyes is a genuinely nice person who can talk on any level, never above your head. And I wasn’t lost in a system; I was part of a family who wanted to see me get well.”

Tom is a North Dakota native who has lived in the Devils Lake region his entire life. He is married and has two children. When not busy with Lamotte’s Paint & Glass, he enjoys spending time at his lake home, hunting and fishing.