b'Growing up, the hospital felt like my second home. Im concerned about the future because theres no cure for my disease. HANNAH WALSH (With her father, Tim) St. Petersburg, FLMAUREEN NOFTSINGER node. Diagnosed with Stage III endometrial cancer, I had six cycles of chemo followed by daily radiation treatments lasting six months. Salem, VA As a registered mammographer, and my husband a radiologist, When I was 39 years old I was in the best shape of my life. I was we were concerned about lymphedema (LE). My oncology an active, competitive triathlete living my best life with my husbandsurgeon, who retired shortly after my surgery, repeatedly saidand two young children. Suddenly and unexpectedly the course ofI would not be affected. During a follow-up appointment with my my life changed. I was diagnosed with cervical adenocarcinomanew oncology surgeon four months later, I was diagnosed with (Stage 2B) and had a radical hysterectomy. I developedsecondary lymphedema of my right leg. I was fortunate to findlymphedema immediately but it was never diagnosed until aa local physical therapist specializing in LE, and did everything year later. The physical changes, cellulitis, and emotional traumaprescribed: barbaric leg wrapping, weekly PT appointmentshave taken a toll on me both personally and professionally. My lifefor manual lymph drainage which didnt help, and wearing included a divorce, PTSD, manual lymphatic drainage, and use of acompression garments all day every day. Insurance coverage was pump. Taking care of my leg and my health has become a full-timeminimal. Unable to ever work again, with my entire right leg, job. As well as thousands of dollars spent on garments to helpbuttocks and abdomen swollen, and unable to find clothes or shoes control it that are not covered by insurance. Yet I feel blessed andto wear, I became reclusive. I eventually purchased an extremely am extremely grateful to be able to afford them. The pain is aexpensive lymphatic pump to use daily, even when traveling, in reminder of the trauma on a daily basis. Caring for lymphedemaaddition to wearing compression garments for the rest of my life. as we age does not get easier, rather it becomes moreLE is worse than a cancer diagnosis or treatment.challenging. We need focused research to find a better way to detect the spread of cancer that doesnt have life-altering, forever consequences or a way to cure this disease. ESTEBAN DELGADORenton, WADIANE RUSSELL I have advanced lymphedema (LE) that went undiagnosed and untreated for at least 25 years. Sadly, thats very typical, as most The Plains, VA doctors know almost nothing about this condition. Because it In 2013 at age 46, a partial hysterectomy (because of a fibroid)was untreated, the LE has spread all over my body. Ive been in revealed an early grade endometrial cancer. Having both fallopianhospitals and nursing homes for six years now. All of this could tubes and ovaries removed ,with a lymph node dissection twohave been prevented had my doctors known more about LE.weeks later, revealed that my early grade cancerwhich never should have spreaddid spread to both ovaries and one lymph AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY 43'