Update of Joan's condition June 1998

June 23, 1998

I think the best way to bring you up to date on Joan's treatment and condition is to share with you the email I received from her this morning:

Hi Kendall

As you know, yesterday I had my first chemotherapy infusion...it was quite an experience...it was an uplifting, happy day and I am anxious to share it with you.

My Medical Oncologist is Dr. Kenneth Algazy at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. I learned yesterday that Dr. Algazy is a survivor of bone cancer..he even had a bone marrow transplant. So my doctor was once a cancer patient and relates to each of his patients in a way that I think would be impossible were it not for his experience. I spent several hours in what is called the infusion room where several other people where having intravenous chemotherapy treatments at the same time. I must say that whenever Dr. Algazy entered the room you could tell which were his patients immediately because their faces just lit up when they saw him.

Now let me tell you about the room itself. It's a large bright happy room with ceiling to floor windows on one wall that overlook a green landscaped courtyard. Of course, there is television, too. Each person has a big, comfortable reclining chair and beside it is that rack thingy that holds all the intravenous bottles. The atmosphere is upbeat and people are all talking to each other and laughing with the nurses and having a fine time.

I was a bit of a wet blanket in the beginning because I was very, very nervous and even a little apprehensive....as a matter of fact...as I was being 'stuck' for the iv line I began to cry. It's not pretty when I cry...my whole face gets red and my nose runs and tears just run like a faucet full open. But many comforted me...other patients as well as the nurses...my fear passed quickly.

It took three hours for me to receive all the medication...I will admit it was a 'long' three hours...but I had no reactions to any of the drugs and as of this hour I am feeling good...a little tired perhaps...but basically good...and I have the strangest feeling of things happening inside of me...I feel as though the angels are working fast and furiously within me somewhere...I'm serious...that's what it feels like...those cancer cells are doomed!!!

I know your prayers are helping...they give me courage!

There was a great deal of excitement in the room yesterday and everyone was talking about a new drug that will be available shortly....it's a 'smart' chemotherapy drug...it destroys only cancer cells and doesn't harm healthy cells. I didn't get the name of it but I will make every effort to find out and post on the website asap...this would be a wonderful breakthrough because it would eliminate most of the negative aspects of chemotherapy...the destruction of healthy cells....yippee!!!

I did receive the new drug that I was so persistent about getting...Taxotere. It is a very 'friendly' chemical treatment...it has very little side effects and is tolerated well by the patient....I don't go back for three weeks...when I will receive my second infusion.

That's about all I know to date but I will be looking for more information to share with you as I go along.

One thought I want to leave you with is something of which I am very sure....cancer is no longer a death sentence...it is now a curable disease...and very soon I think it will go the way of polio....please God!

There are so many dedicated people working to defeat this awful thing...this cancer...from the research laboratories to the sweet, gentle nurses who actually work with the patients...I feel privileged to see this wonderful interaction between people...between God's children.

I am having quite an experience, as I'm sure you will gather from my letters!

Thank you for your prayers and for your support.

With love and gratitude....Joan x

" Good News "

After two months of being evaluated by several hospitals in the Philadelphia area, Joan has chosen the University of Pennsylvania Hospital for her treatments. She says there's something about this hospital and the people who work there that makes her feel safe.

She's been reading and researching her condition (locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer/stage 3A) everyday.... on the telephone to libraries, surfing the net, finding and reading books voraciously and she has drawn certain conclusions. The first is that the best regiment of treatment for her condition would be a combination of chemotherapy, using a new and wonderful drug called Taxotere, and radiation treatments. The doctors at University of Penn Hospital suggested exactly this before she mentioned her thoughts to them.

Her second thought is that she should be re-evaluated as a candidate for surgery following the completion of these treatments. Again, this was suggested by both Dr. Kenneth Algazy and Dr. Stephen Hahn without her saying a word.

"It's a fit" she says...."I've found my safe harbor"...."This is where I will get better"

Everyone will work quickly now to get treatment started....it's been two long months since she was diagnosed.

The catscan of Joan's chest that was done yesterday shows that the cancer has not spread....thank you God!

Joan strongly believes your prayers are working and she is very thankful for your loving support.

The only word I could use to describe my friend today would have to be HAPPY.

Kendall Cardenas 6-10-98

Dear Friends

I received a wonderful gift today from my husband, Phil, from my partner, Kendall, and from my daughter, Lorraine....it's a promise.

They've been watching me reading the email from viewers that Kendall sends each day. I smile and laugh and cry as I read them. I had no idea how much comfort and peace AngelicArtistry has brought to people.

I want to do so much more with AngelicArtistry and it would be so sad if it couldn't continue to help people.

If anything should happen that I wouldn't be able to continue, Kendall has promised to do all the technical work to keep AngelicArtistry going, Phil will pay all fees for website expenses, and Lorraine will do the artwork.....so you will always have AngelicArtistry....no matter what.

And now just this once, allow me to tell you the purpose of AngelicArtistry....it is to reassure you that you are loved and that each and every one of you is precious and important....you are never alone....angels are with you and God is watching over us all.

And I think there is a lot more for me to do. So I'm pretty sure I'll be around for another twenty years or so.

Your prayers are needed and appreciated and I thank you....Joan xx

June 1, 1998

" Good News "

After two months of being evaluated by several hospitals in the Philadelphia area, Joan has chosen the University of Pennsylvania Hospital for her treatments. She says there's something about this hospital and the people who work there that makes her feel safe.

She's been reading and researching her condition (locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer/stage 3A) everyday.... on the telephone to libraries, surfing the net, finding and reading books voraciously and she has drawn certain conclusions. The first is that the best regiment of treatment for her condition would be a combination of chemotherapy, using a new and wonderful drug called Taxotere, and radiation treatments. The doctors at University of Penn Hospital suggested exactly this before she mentioned her thoughts to them.

Her second thought is that she should be re-evaluated as a candidate for surgery following the completion of these treatments. Again, this was suggested by both Dr. Kenneth Algazy and Dr. Stephen Hahn without her saying a word.

"It's a fit" she says...."I've found my safe harbor"...."This is where I will get better"

Everyone will work quickly now to get treatment started....it's been two long months since she was diagnosed.

The catscan of Joan's chest that was done yesterday shows that the cancer has not spread....thank you God!

Joan strongly believes your prayers are working and she is very thankful for your loving support.

The only word I could use to describe my friend today would have to be HAPPY.

Kendall Cardenas 6-10-98

April 1998 / May 1998 / June 1998 / July 1998 / August 1998 / September 1998

October 1998 / November 1998 / December 1998

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