Patricia Uses Positivity Through Cancer Journey

A cancer diagnosis changes everything in an instant. One moment life is normal. The next, nothing is. For Patricia Huber, that moment came in the emergency room... when she went in thinking she might have a heart problem and left with news she never expected.

A Shocking Start

Patricia's first symptoms were subtle. She felt short of breath but had no pain. When things got worse, she and her husband went to the ER. The medical team ran tests. They asked her to stay. And then a doctor delivered news that stopped her in her tracks.

"I have what?" she recalls thinking. "It is very overwhelming."

That doctor diagnosed Patricia with primary peritoneal cancer, a gynecological cancer. She was eventually connected with Dr. Cassandra Lacher at the Riverside Cancer Institute. That connection made all the difference.

A Doctor Who Brought Calm

Meeting Dr. Lacher marked a turning point. Patricia felt at ease from their very first visit. "She just made me feel calmer," Patricia shares. "The way she talked, there was a lot of hope." Hearing about the treatment options available gave Patricia something to hold onto. And, she left that first appointment feeling ready to take the next step.

Over the past three years, Patricia has gone through five different chemotherapy treatments. When one stops working, Dr. Lacher moves on to the next option. "She always says, 'I got something else in my hip pocket,'" Patricia notes. "That sentiment makes you feel calm and ultimately content."

Working Through the Hard Days

Hearing that a treatment is not working is never easy. In the beginning, that news hit hard. But over time, Patricia found a way to shift her mindset. "I got to the point where I was looking forward to the next step," she says. "But, you have to put your mind in the right set. You have to work at it."

For Patricia, that work looks like staying busy. Cooking dinner. Doing puzzles. Going on errands with her husband. Having a grandchild sleep over. Keeping lunch plans with friends she has known since high school. 

"It just helps a lot," she emphasizes.

Her family has been a steady source of strength throughout. Her husband steps in wherever she needs help. Her daughters call often and come by regularly. And, Patricia has been clear with all of them about what she needs: positivity. 

A Second Family at Riverside

Patricia says she has never dreaded coming in for treatment. The staff knows her name. They greet her when she walks by. "It's like a second family, really," she assures. That sense of community has been a quiet but powerful part of her journey.

Advice for Others

When asked what she would say to someone who has received a cancer diagnosis, Patricia is honest. The first days are hard. There is no way around that. But things do get easier. With time, with effort, and with the right people around you.

"As time goes, they will hopefully get to a mindset where they'll have less time of feeling bad and more time of accepting this is what it is and carry on," she reinforces. "Everybody has a different timeline for that. But they have to work at it."

As for her own outlook? Patricia puts it plainly: "I don't regret anything. I'm just doing the best I can."

Click here to listen to Patricia's podcast interview on Conversations on Cancer with Dr. Ahsan Basha.

For more information on services at Riverside Cancer Institute, go to myrhc.net/cancer.