In Sept 2021 at the age 66, Lisa was driving and was accidentally rear ended while waiting at a stop sign. She sustained several Injuries, including whiplash, concussion, dental and facial injuries. During this time, Lisa was living in a suburb north of Pittsburgh and in good health. She was working as a Senior Buyer for Becton Dickinson in the medical equipment division. Lisa enjoyed her position, It was a fantastic job, making life saving equipment used in many hospitals around the world.
Lisa never missed her medical/dental prevention appointments. She exercised a couple times a week and struggled with weight loss. In the months following the car accident, Lisa received the Shingles injections, a flu shot, a Covid vaccination, as well as Pneumonia inoculation. So, when the lump appeared on her neck, Lisa wasn’t surprised, she assumed it was from the injections overloading her system.
The lump was viewed by her primary care physician, and due to its nature and history of the recent injections, it was decided to wait and see if the lump would subside. Lisa also had a nasal injury from the car accident, which led her to make an appointment with an ENT. At the appointment, a follow-up scan was scheduled on her thyroid nodules. Lisa’s nose was bruised from the accident, and she forgot to ask about the neck lump as she was waiting to see if it went away.
Lisa underwent a scan on the nodules, and the results indicated two enlarged lymph nodes. A biopsy was then conducted to examine the tissue, which was confirmed suspicious. Fortunately, she was referred to Dr. Duvvuri, head of Robotics, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Lisa explained, He’s the most patient and compassionate surgeon. The next week I had a CT scan, MRI, and a follow-up appointment.
Another biopsy was performed, removing a spot at the base of her tongue, back of the tongue and right tonsil. Twenty-three days later, the pathology came back listing two rare cancers: Lymphoepithelial carcinoma of the left submandibular gland and lymph nodes and Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of right base of tongue. According to Lisa’s medical team, no one has ever had both rare cancers at the same time.
Lisa then underwent surgery to remove 35 lymph nodes on the left and right side of her neck. She was sent home with 10 Sterile strips on each side of her neck and drains. A week later, Lisa had a sneezing and coughing attack where she experienced suction at the drains and then an overflow of blood leaking everywhere. She nearly passed out. Her son called the ambulance, and Lisa was hospitalized for a week and underwent surgery to repair a neck vein.
During her cancer journey, Lisa had planned to retire in Feb 2022 and move to Florida. When she was released from the surgeon, Lisa packed up her belongings and made the trip to Florida. She was given a two-week window to start daily radiation and chemotherapy on Thursdays at SHANDS Gainesville, FL
My surgeon knew the radiologist at SHANDS, Dr. Bob Amdur, MD, so I was confident I was in good hands. SHANDS lined up my Oncologist, Dr. Frankie and within two weeks I was driving to Gainesville daily for radiation, explained Lisa. Treatment was seven weeks of radiation, 33 doses, six weeks of chemotherapy, finishing July 1, 2022.
Throughout her cancer journey, Lisa experienced no pain. She only used Tylenol to sleep in the hospital. For her radiation and chemotherapy treatments, Lisa drove herself daily for five weeks and then her family stepped up to help. The combination of chemotherapy and radiation finally hit her at five weeks.
I was fortunate while being on Cisplatin chemo, I did not have any side effects. Radiation caused me to lose my hair on my neck, a first physical side effect. But radiation sneaks up on you the longer you endure it, and it continues working in your body long after treatments end, added Lisa.
In all, Lisa lost a total of 85 pounds due to loss of taste and swallowing issues. The nerves on both sides of her face were moved during surgery, which caused a facial pull, but since then it has nearly subsided. Her facial nerves are still reconnecting, which causes some tingling. Her smile has improved along with her appetite. Lisa experiences dry mouth now but drinks more water daily and eats smaller food bites of food. Swallowing pills continues to be challenging so she crushes them. Her taste buds are not the same, but it’s okay, she has learned what she can taste and only tries small bites of something new.
A year following treatments, Lisa’s energy returned. She has joined a volunteer group and is enjoying her grandkids, family, and friends. She is pursuing a Florida Real Estate License and actively seeking employment.
Her Aunt fondly refers to Lisa as the energizer bunny, she just keeps on going!
