Cancer anniversary

By Curt Swarm

Like a lot of people, I’d had some squamous cell carcinomas removed from my scalp. But in June, 2024, a red splotch, about the size of my fist, appeared on my forehead. It looked like a birthmark. I went to dermatology. After a biopsy they told me the red splotch was a neuroendocrine carcinoma, and referred me to the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics.

About this time a farmer buddy gave me some aronia berry juice and told me to drink it daily. I did. It’s high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. By the time we arrived at the U of I, the red splotch, they called it a lesion, had all but disappeared. The docs were sort of flabbergasted.

But they did some biopsies and changed the diagnosis to Merkel Cell Carcinoma, caused by exposure to UV sunlight. The cancer had spread to lymph nodes in my neck, like water flowing downhill. Let this be a lesson in the need for sunscreen and wearing a hat.

The treatment seemed simple, too simple. Instead of chemotherapy, I was to get infusions of an immunotherapy drug, Keytruda. Immunotherapy boosts the body’s immune system to fight the cancer cells and is supposed to be easier on the patient than chemotherapy. In rare cases immunosuppressants can also attack body organs. Ginnie and I thought Keytruda would be the ticket.

Early on, I noticed I was feeling sick with nausea and diarrhea. Thinking the aronia juice might be interacting with the immunotherapy, I stopped drinking the aronia juice.

I also had the foresight to ask the doctors for an antidepressant, and I’m glad I did. I have never used an antidepressant, but sensed this immunization treatment was going to be a long slog, like hiking the Appalachian Trail. I would need something to help me get through the depression that comes from a long-term illness.

Then I got really sick, with constant diarrhea, nausea, dizziness and shortness of breath. The Keytruda had attacked my colon, giving me colitis. Ugh. I was cancer free, but sicker than a dog eat’n grass.

In one bad bout, I was so short of breath, I called my oncologist and was told to get to the ER. I did. The ER did a CT scan and found one tiny blood clot, a pulmonary embolism, in one lung. It was so tiny that there was debate as to whether it was a clot or an “artifact.” Such strange lingo in the halls of medicine. The docs decided it wasn’t worth prescribing a blood thinner as they normally would have done.

The diarrhea, nausea, shortness of breath and dizziness continued, in fact it got really bad. Once again, I was very short of breath and sent to the ER. Another CT scan, with imaging, was done. This time a whole bunch of small blood clots, or pulmonary embolisms, were found in both lungs. Uh, oh. A blood clot passing to the heart can be fatal. Passing to the brain can cause a stroke.

That’s where I am today, one year from the first diagnosis of cancer. I’m taking Eliquis to thin my blood and deal with the blood clots. Hopefully, this will solve the shortness of breath. However, I still have colitis and nausea. Doctors are working on a solution and I have confidence it will be resolved.

A valid conclusion is that the cancer treatment was harder on me than the cancer, or the cure is worse than the cause. I try not to think in this manner because I have no idea how bad the cancer could have gotten without treatment. The cancer could have spread through my entire body. I also don’t know if aronia berry juice may have been more effective, with less side effects, than the immunotherapy. These are thoughts looking back, which is pain. Vision is looking forward. I have my books, poetry and God to protect me.

Contact Curt Swarm at curtswarm@yahoo.com