> From: ARDFLUTE@aol.com
> To: vianet@i-2000.com
> Subject: My story
> Date: Sunday, June 22, 1997 6:44 PM
>
>
> Hello,
> My name is Ardeth Files. I am a leiomyosarcoma long-term cancer
> survivor. I am 35 years old. At the age of 12, I had four benign tumors
> removed from my stomach which were labeled to be leiomyoblastomas. At the age
> of 18, I had more surgery to remove a tumor that had ruptured. Upon opening
> my stomach at this time, the surgeon was surprised to see there was seeding
> all over the inside of the stomach as well as these benign tumors and now
> malignant tumors-leiomyosarcomas. He took the one tumor out that had ruptured
> and closed me back up. From there I met an oncologist who talked to us about
> possible treatments. I lived in Mississippi at the time. So my parents had
> heard about M.D. Anderson in Houston, Texas as being a good cancer hospital.
> I went there to get set up on a chemotherapy protocol. I had six months of
> adriamicyn, DTIC, Cytoxin , and Vincristine. After six months, the tumors
> were still growing. Also, I had a tumor that had started growing in my right
> lung. The Miss. oncologist told my parents in 3 to 6 months I would be dead.
> Well, we decided to keep up the fight. I found another doctor who wanted to
> try an experimental treatment on me called-whole body hyperthermia-where they
> heat the blood to a high temperature in order to weaken the cancer cells..
> Low dosages of radiation are given with this treatment as was more chemo.This
> time I had BCNU and prednisone. ( This treatment isn't being given now.)
>
> Well the tumors seemed to not be growing so much. In 1981 I had the tumor
> removed from my lung-it proved to be benign-a chondroma. In 1982, I had my
> entire stomach removed, top and bottom stomach valves, spleen, appendix and
> part of my liver all due to leiomyosarcoma. My surgeon created a new stomach
> for me out of my small intestines at this time. In 1984, I had more lung
> surgery but this time it was due to an infection that got in my old scar
> tissue..I ended up losing half of my right lung-right lower and middle lobes.
> All seemed fine until 1990. I had a second look abdominal surgery. I had my
> gallbladder removed because it was full of gallstones. At that time had
> another tumor on my liver. But it was benign-a hepatic adenoma. I also had a
> cystic type tumor in my pelvic area called a paraganglioma. (My condition is
> quite rare-the leiomyosarcomas, chondromas, and paragangliomas make up a
> condition known as "Carney's Triad". It is named after a pathologist,Dr. J.A.
> Carney at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Today, I am doing well.)
> I have been married for ten years and work part-time as an assistant
> librarian. My husband is a part-time pastor and a hospice chaplain.
> Now to tell you something else..Before I got sick in 1980, I had a dream
> that I feel was a forewarning from the Lord. In the dream I am lying in the
> hospital bed and there is an IV in my arm and my surgeon walks in. He says,
> "Ardeth we are going to have to operate." Next in the dream, I am in the
> hospital still when he again walks into the room, only this time I have an NG
> tube coming out my nose. The surgeon said, "I have someone I want you to
> meet." He leaves me alone with a doctor who says."You have cancer." At that
> point in the dream, the doctor leaves and I look up and see the devil who is
> laughing at me. He disappears and I look up and see that Jesus is standing
> beside me. Jesus says,"Ardeth, do not be afraid. I am going to heal you and
> to be with you through this time, but you must have patience. " Well, guess
> what?? The doctors in real life were the exact same ones in my dream. It
> happened almost identically to the dream with the one leaving and the other
> saying "You have cancer".
> I didn't remember the dream until after the oncologist left the room. My
> mother and several other church friends all joined hands and began to pray.
> As we were praying, I heard a little voice say, "Remember your dream." Well,
> the dream came back to me immediately. At that same time, my mother said that
> she felt someone brush against her and she had a peace. She said it felt like
> a person with a long-flowing robe. I have no doubt that it was Jesus because
> how many mothers would suddenly have a perfect peace after just learning that
> there daughter has cancer?? I felt like it would be alright too. So with many
> surgeries, treatments, and prayers I am here today when some doctors felt I
> should have been dead years ago. The power of prayer really does work ..But
> please follow your doctor's recommendations and never give up hope..
> I can only hope that this offers some encouragement to others who are
> suffering from Leiomyosarcoma.
> Take care and may God bless each and everyone of you. (^j^ ^j^ ^j^
> Angels watching over you.)
> Thank you for allowing me to share my story with you.
> Ardeth
>
> P.S. My e-mail address is ARDFLUTE@aol.com