A Profile of Hope - Wendy's Story

Healthy Survivor. That's me! I'm a 52 year-old mother of three, doctor of internal medicine, author of several books on cancer survivorship, and 16 year (and counting) long-term cancer survivor who, as a Healthy Survivor has been getting good care and living as fully as possible.

I was diagnosed with indolent non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 1990, an era before routine use of ports (for administering intravenous medicines directly into large veins near the heart) and before Zofran (the first of a class of very effective anti-nausea medicines). I was treated with an aggressive course of multi-drug therapy, which put my lymphoma into remission.

Before my one-year post-treatment checkup, I was diagnosed with the first of many (seven, so far) recurrences, all of which have responded to various treatments. Since my latest recurrence in November 2005, I have been on maintenance treatments.

When illness made it impossible for me to continue caring for my patients in my solo practice of internal medicine, I turned to writing books and articles. I have used my useful perspective as a physician-survivor to share the insights I've had and advice I can offer. The underlying themes of my life and of all my books are: (1) knowledge is power, (2) there is always hope, and (3) happiness is possible in hard times.  (www.wendyharpham.com)

Even though I've had to deal with my share of medical problems and I would never (ever!) choose to have cancer, I love my life!  Every day, I find some happiness despite my illness, and I try to tap into the special happiness that can happen because of illness.

Every spring I participate in the Dallas Lymphomathon, because research WILL find less toxic and more effective treatments and cures. The hope of research tames my fear of tomorrow and helps me embrace today.

Each of us - every person - has to forge and follow his or her own personal path to happiness after lymphoma.  But none of us has to do it alone.  I benefited from the support and advice of those who were diagnosed before me; now I hope to help people who’ve been diagnosed after me.

As I say at the end of all my talks, "There is life after a cancer diagnosis.  Make it a good life." 

Learn more about or join the Lymphoma Support Network Buddy Progam.

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