Knowing When to Seek
Treatment
"I'm a big believer that patients
know their own bodies," says
Dr. Bergman. "If you think
something is wrong or has changed,
even a subtle change, you should go
to your general practitioner."
"It mimics other conditions," Amy
says. "If I have flu-like symptoms for
three or more days, I know it's not
the flu. Ovarian cancer is something
that can't be detected on a Pap
smear. Twenty-two thousand women
a year will be diagnosed, and about
12,000 will die because they wait
too long. If you can get to a good
gynecologic oncologist early your
survival rate goes up considerably."
Amy encourages anyone whose life
has been impacted by ovarian cancer
to get involved with a support group
and to accept the care of those
around you. She attributes her
success and survival to her husband
Jay, her Deer Park community and
the Providence care team for the
support she received and continues
to receive.
"As women, we're caregivers," says
Amy. "We also need to learn to
accept care from others when we're
not well."
■
Building Lasting
Relationships
"Because you're in the fight of your
life, you form a different bond with
your oncologist than you may with
your general doctor," says Amy. "Dr.
Bergman has a genuine care for
keeping people free of this disease."
"The journey," explains Dr. Bergman,
"and I keep using that word because
it is a journey, is that you meet a
patient and they have something
that has now changed their life. They
never thought they'd get cancer. We
bond with them. I have been caring
for some patients for 19 years and
that's rewarding."
Amy expresses gratitude for her
entire care team at Providence,
noting one nurse who stood out. "My
chemo nurse changed her schedule so
she would be there when I came in
for my treatments. Who does that?"
Today, nine years after her first
treatment, Amy is cancer free and
continues to show no evidence of
the disease that changed her life.
"The only reason I'm here is because
I had a very awesome oncologist,"
Amy says.
A Life Beyond Cancer
Amy's post-cancer life isn't only
more optimistic, it's more full than
ever. She worked with Providence to
set up a gynecologic cancer support
group, and even travels to
Washington, D.C. once a year with
medical staff to advocate for ovarian
cancer funding, testing and research.
With some encouragement from Dr.
Bergman, she's also competing in
triathlons.
"Those are things I would never have
done on my own," Amy says. "They
encourage you to live a fuller life and
reach out and encourage other
women going through this. They
look at you as more than a patient."
"The only reason
I'm here is
because I had a
very awesome
oncologist."
12 HEART BEAT SPRING 2021
Better
Together
Virtual cancer support
groups, including the
gynecologic support
group, are available
to all, including those
who are not patients of
Providence. Please call
509-474-5490 or email
PHConcologynavigator@
providence.org if you're
interested in attending.
