Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 1, 2019

Allies in your fight To learn more about the Alliance for Cancer Care, visit allianceforcancercare.org . our entire region.” That was when I realized I might have ovarian cancer. By the time it’s diagnosed, it’s often beyond treatment or cure. A whirlwind week of blood tests, CT scans and an appointment with Dr. Elizabeth Grosen at Cancer Care Northwest proved reassuring. But with a poor family medical history, she also warned me it might be “the big one.” I was scheduled for a full hysterectomy the next week. Gearingup for theworst Those seven days were the most daunting of my life. Talking to our four daughters. Rewriting wills. Creating a “what to do” notebook for my husband if I died—it slayed me. Checking in to Providence Sacred Heart’s surgical unit, I was prepared for the worst. The stats for ovarian cancer were brutal. The internet is not your friend at times like this. It did more to terrify than inform me, and I recommend staying away from it. Hours later in recovery, my husband gave me the news. My tumors (there were two) were benign. I was going to live to see my next grandkids campout, and many more after that. In one day, I went from feeling like I was going to die, to being ready to embrace every second of my life. Family and friends surrounded me with love. Anallianceof ‘laser- focused’ care It wasn’t until afterward I learned that Kootenai Health is a part of The Alliance for Cancer Care, a cooperative that includes Providence Sacred Heart and Cancer Care Northwest. My doctor didn’t boot me. She put me in the hands of their caregiving partners. I got lucky. I had a PT who knew something wasn’t right and an MRI tech who took the time to give my medical team the information they needed. For those of you who’ve heard that there’s “no care in health care,” I beg to differ, because that team of professionals was laser-focused on my health. They took the time to make a difference. I’m back on my trainer, and while my arthritis isn’t gone, it’s in check. I value my life every day like a gift, not a given. And my advice? If you feel like something’s not right, keep asking questions, because the people who care for you genuinely do care. I, for one, know they saved more than my life. They gave me back my quality of life. I’m beyond grateful. What Is theAlliance for Cancer Care? Kootenai Health, Cancer Care Northwest and Providence Health Care formed a regional cancer alliance called the Alliance for Cancer Care in 2015. These three organizations—the region’s premier health care leaders in cancer services—shared a desire to create a regional cancer alliance aimed at elevating the quality, coordination and experience for cancer patients and their families throughout the region. Together they provide patients with access to the finest hospitals, largest group of specialists, and most complete and advanced cancer treatment options available in the greater Spokane and Coeur d’Alene region. By combining their talents and resources, patients receive better treatment, greater convenience and improved outcomes. in tears. I’d had to tell my daughter I couldn’t manage my toddler grandson for our annual grandkids weekend campout. I felt like a failure and was completely discouraged. He immediately said, “something’s not right. You should be getting better.” I wasn’t. Ongoing nerve pain made it almost impossible to walk, let alone chase around little kids. After two weeks of wrangling with insurance, they agreed to cover my MRI. Near the end of my test, the MRI tech said she wanted to get a few more scans. Ashockingdiscovery Two days later, I got the call no one wants. My doctor needed to see me that day, in person. I showered and called my husband to say, “I don’t think this is going to be good.” “The MRI revealed something pretty shocking,” Dr. Bertsch told me. “You have a grapefruit-sized tumor on your ovary. I’ve referred you to the top gynecologic oncologist at Cancer Care Northwest.” I broke down. I knew it must be bad if Kootenai wanted to send me beyond their system to a clinic in Spokane. Dr. Bertsch assured me, “She’s the best in KH . ORG 15