A Doctor Who Wouldn't Listen: The Other Fork

The other fork in Sandy Garvin's road is her treatment since she found out that her cancer had indeed metastasized. She says she decided she no longer trusted doctors at the UW, and she switched to the Swedish cancer center.

Her surgeon at Swedish did the hip replacement she needed by that time, because the tumor had grown to more than 4 centimeters in size. She also has been treated with radiation and chemotherapy at Swedish, including the drugs zometa and Avastin.

She has had to take breaks from treatment and take a lower-than-usual dose of Avastin in order to keep her one remaining kidney from failing. Sandy also does regular physical therapy to try to regain some mobility.

Her cancer cannot be cured.

@ Jeanne Sather 2008.