Public invited to cancer survivor celebration for Sackets Harbor resident
By Rebecca Madden, Watertown Daily Times, N.Y. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
The 71-year-old has battled different cancers annually since 2005, and before that, she first battled breast cancer in 1983. Currently undergoing chemotherapy for ovarian cancer, Mrs. Allen said she won't let anything stop her -- especially multiple bouts of cancer -- from living a full life.
"People ask me how I go about it every day," she said. "It scares me in a way, but the best thing you can do is go to the doctor. Early detection means a lot. It doesn't scare me now as much as it did."
She said that's because three decades ago, cancer treatment was radically different from today, with significant improvements on medication administration and prevention efforts. In 1983, she found a lump in her right breast after a self examination.
The
Perhaps, she said, she left the hospital too soon, as she developed a staph infection, which subsequently spread to the face of her husband,
Chemotherapy, Mrs. Allen said, involved mixing of chemicals, and then a large needle was inserted into a vein in her hand. There were no accompanying pills to help with nausea, so at every treatment,
"Oncologists then were few and far between,"
Mrs. Allen received treatments at
From late 1983 to 2005, Mrs. Allen said, she felt great, as she was cancer free and enjoyed watching her children grow up. During that time she had managed
Since 2005, Mrs. Allen has had bladder, ovarian or breast cancer, or a strangulated bowel from cancer. Although the couple uses
Their retirement savings is being eaten away, he said.
To celebrate Mrs. Allen as a survivor and a current cancer patient, they are inviting the community to a survivor celebration from
A chicken barbecue, entertainment, silent auction, 50-50 drawings, fish casting competition and duck and goose call competitions will be held to raise funds for the Allens to help cover expenses.
Related to her cancer troubles, Mrs. Allen also has kidney trouble and has had a hysterectomy. Her doctors, she said, also are watching spots on her lungs, which appear to be shrinking from chemotherapy for her ovarian cancer.
"Jerry is my big incentive of 52 years," Mrs. Allen said. "He's my big pusher."
Since 1983,
"We understand the path it's taking, and ask the right questions," he said. "Linda prays a lot, too."
She also has sparkly pink stones in the shape of a cancer awareness ribbon she wears around her neck, and a matching charm bracelet she wears on her right wrist.
While some days she feels sick or emotional, Mrs. Allen said, she refuses to let cancer get her down.
"You work through a lot of stuff," she said. "The majority of your attitude means a lot. When I go to (the doctors), I just expect that I'm going to be OK. They'll take care of this."
Awareness, she said, has helped her and her family understand what is happening and why. Mrs. Allen has tested positive for a mutation of the BRCA 1 gene.
With that mutation, the risk of breast and ovarian cancer is high, according to the
Members of her family have had breast, ovarian, lung and prostate cancer. An adult niece died three years ago of ovarian cancer and was a carrier of the gene.
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