I am ku
Awesome and amazing In 2005, Delia Adams discovered a lump in her right breast. Her medical journey started roughly but eased when she came to the KU Medical Center for treatment. Carol Connor, M.D., associate professor of breast surgery, conducted her initial treatment; Priyanka Sharma, M.D., assistant professor of hematology/oncology, manages her continuing treatment.
How did you find your way to KU Med?
Tell us about your experience. Everyone — surgeon, nurses, radiologists, oncologists — gave me answers and made me feel I could trust them. It’s such a personal journey, everyone involved becomes a family member. You see them all the time, they have your best interests in mind. I’m terrified of needles. They say you should do what you’re afraid of. Not true. But my nurse, Mark, is the most calming, soothing, gentle person, my cheerleader.
What is the role of private philanthropy in medical advancement? Oh, my gosh, it’s huge. It’s our responsibility to help our brothers and sisters. I’ve been involved in fundraising for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for about six years through my employer, Waddell & Reed. Can you imagine if everyone decided to get involved? The money for research would be incredible.
Can you offer any advice? I’ve learned that family, friends and peace are the most important things to get you through it. I consider KU Med my friend. Without them, knowing who I am, I wouldn’t have made it. And remember: El cancer no tiene barreras — Cancer knows no boundaries.
YOU CAN HELP SURVIVORS To support the Breast Cancer Survivorship Center, part of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, visit kuendowment.org/survivor. mark mcdonald
When I found the lump, I was seeing an OB/GYN at another hospital, and she sent me to that hospital’s breast center. I had just lost a dear friend to breast cancer and another to melanoma within a year. I was truly, truly terrified. Then I received horrible service and a terrible bedside manner. I’d go in for one procedure, then come back two weeks later for the next. One doctor called me on a Saturday morning and left me a message, “We need to talk” — but you can’t call back on the weekend. A friend’s husband, who works at KU Med, said I should go there and see Carol Connor. He was right. She’s just an amazing person. Everything I tell you about KU Med is going to be positive.
asked if I should get a second opinion, and she said I could, but she and the KU Med team had decided on the best treatment for me. I said, “What? You have a team?” Turned out all these people had read my case and sat down and talked about me. I loved that. I underwent a lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy. Now, I’m two years into a five-year preventive plan with Dr. Sharma. I get monthly treatments to suppress hormones that would encourage the cancer to recur. Every six months I get an infusion to keep my bones healthy and a followup mammogram. It’s pretty awesome to be a two-year survivor.
What was your diagnosis? They did a biopsy on that first lump and learned it was not cancer. But Dr. Connor followed up with me and did a mammogram every six months, and in 2008 she spotted a little speck on my left breast. That one was cancer, invasive ductile carcinoma. That’s the most common kind of breast cancer, so there are treatments for it. And she discovered it at an early stage. I’m so grateful for that.
How did you choose your treatment? Dr. Connor gave me the whole plan of attack. It was like, “We’re going to take care of you, we’re going to love you. We know what to do with this cancer.” I
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KU GIVING | WINTER 2011
Delia Adams meets Mark Winkler, R.N., once a month at the The University of Kansas Cancer Center treatment area. She says she’s afraid of needles, but his soothing attitude helps: “If I have to have a shot, I want it from him.”