Patty Pittala tells the @CancerInterviews podcast her cancer journey began with symptoms not usually associated with cancer.  In 2017, she would get a cold and would last abnormally long.  Then she would get a debilitating skin rash.  For the rash, she went to a dermatologist and was given large dosages of prednisone and methotrexate.  The rash went away, but Patty found herself constantly fatigued.  A chest biopsy revealed signs of what looked like some sort of lymphoma, which weeks later was diagnosed as B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.  Treated with a chemotherapy regimen spearheaded by the drug cytoxin, Patty achieved survivorship, has returned to a healthy lifestyle and has taken up kayaking.

 

It was bad enough that Patty Pittala of Westford, Vermont was feeling fatigued, but tests showed she had a blood clot that ran from her neck to her left hand.  Next up were x-rays that showed a major mass in her left lung.  That led to the biopsy, after which Patty was told she had lymphoma, doctors could immediately identify the type of lymphoma, but they did rule out lung cancer.

 

At first, Patty Pittala was again put on prednisone because it had shown to be effective against masses like the one in Patty’s left lung.  Once the diagnosis of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma was made, she needed to wait seven weeks before going on chemotherapy. 

 

Patty’s regimen began with rituxan.  Then she was given a three-chemical cocktail in a pouch hooked up to a pump, which was attached to her port.  When the bag was empty, it was refilled, a routine that went Monday through Friday.  Then on Fridays she was given an infusion of a chemical called cytoxan, to which she said she had the worst reaction.  Patty said she felt like her glands and joints were inflamed from the bottom of her ribcage to the top of her cheekbones.  As awful as this was, Patty Pittala said with each additional treatment, she could feel results, and that made it easier for her to deal with her physical pain on a mental and emotional basis. 

 

Eventually, Patty reached survivorship, and was thrilled, but she approached each step of the journey with hope and confidence.

 

In terms of advice, Patty says to anyone diagnosed with cancer, don’t be afraid to ask questions, and don’t be afraid to seek more knowledge about your diagnosed, because with knowledge, fear has “nowhere to go.”

 

Additional Resources:

 

Vermont Cancer Support Network: https://[email protected]