Drexel Hill, PA—“There are no coincidences in my life, only miracles,” says Nancy Hope, a three-time cancer survivor who is 50 and lives in Newtown Square with her husband and two children, Nicholas, 15, and Mary, 12.
Hope, who was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer two days before Christmas in 1999, says, “I wasn’t thinking about breast cancer, but about Santa Claus. At this time, my children were only 6 and 4 years of age, and I was quite shocked about my diagnosis because no one in my family had ever had breast cancer.”
Doctors found the 2.9-centimeter tumor in her left breast during her mammogram. She underwent three months of intense chemotherapy to shrink the tumor, followed by a mastectomy. Even though the cancer had not yet spread to the lymph nodes, surgeons removed all the lymph nodes around the affected area as a precaution. After this, another three-month chemotherapy course followed.
Hope, who was finally happy that her cancer was “gone,” picked up from where she left off before her cancer diagnosis. She went back to being homeroom mother, lunch mom and library aide at her children’s school.
“Just when I thought I could finally relax, it happened,” Hope says. “I bent over to pick something up in the cafeteria and got a screaming pain in my head that just wouldn’t go away. My husband took me to the emergency department in the middle of the night because I just couldn’t wait until morning.”
It was then that Hope learned the earth-shattering news that the breast cancer had metastasized to her brain and then her liver.
After having the tumor successfully removed from her brain, Hope had to undergo three weeks of “whole head” radiation, causing her hair to fall out permanently. Her doctor opted not to treat the liver cancer.
After all of this happened, Hope sought out a second opinion from John Sprandio, M.D., medical director of the Delaware County Regional Cancer Center, chief of the Section of Hematology/Oncology at Delaware County Memorial Hospital and chairman of the Department of Medicine at DCMH. “After radiation therapy for the brain cancer, I wasn’t feeling well,” Hope says. “I was dizzy and felt like vomiting all the time.”
After reviewing Hope’s medical history and performing some diagnostic tests, Sprandio determined she was suffering from hypercalcemia, a condition in which the calcium level in your blood is high. He prescribed medication to Hope, and after a couple treatments, she felt fine.
“I was immediately impressed with Dr. Sprandio’s clinical expertise, compassion and care,” says Hope, who continues to see Sprandio for monthly follow-up visits.
Hope says her husband, Nick, her children, family and friends provided strength and support during these difficult times.
“I have learned so much from having cancer,” Hope says. ”I wake up every morning and thank God for blessing me with another day.”
The first Mother’s Day that she had breast cancer, Hope’s brothers and sisters formed a team to run in the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure. The team’s name was “Team Hope.” On Sprandio’s suggestion, the team participated in 2000’s Eagle National Bank 5K Walk/Run at Delaware County Memorial Hospital, which benefits the Delaware County Regional Cancer Center. Last year, Team Hope raised more than $10,000 to support the cancer center.
“The walk/run is very special to me as Team Hope was started by my brothers and sisters out of love and support for me,” Hope says. “This year will be Team Hope’s 8th year and each year, the number of participants grows. Last year, there were approximately 400 people walking/running.”
There are many special people in Hope’s life that contribute to the success of Team Hope. “My family and friends are the main driving force behind our team, followed by St. Mary Magdalen School in Media, where my children attend. Every year, we have a race to see what grade will have the most registrations by race day and the winner is awarded with a pizza party,” Hope adds.
“My relationship to the walk/run is so important to me that it has become part of my life,” Hope says. “I go to meetings at the hospital because I am part of the planning committee for the walk/run. The planning begins several months prior to the race and it becomes like a full-time job to prepare. It is worth all of the hard work in the end knowing that so many people care and that so many people will benefit from it.”
The 17th Annual Eagle National Bank 5K Walk/Run to Fight Cancer will take place on Saturday, Sept. 27. The run begins at 10 a.m., followed by the walk at 10:01 a.m. Participants can register on the day of the event from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. (same-day registration fees are $30 for adults and $20 for children under the age of 15), or participants can register ahead of time by calling (610) 853-4805, or at www.races2run.com. Early registration fees are $25 for adults and $10 for children under age 15. All registration fees are waived if the participant submits $50 or more in pledge money by Sept. 12. To register with Team Hope, please call Nancy Hope at (610) 353-7417 for a separate registration form.
All proceeds from the event benefit the Delaware County Regional Cancer Center. The Cancer Center is staffed by experienced physicians, nurses and ancillary staff using state-of-the-art technology to treat all forms of cancer. For more information about the Delaware County Regional Cancer Center and cancer programs at Crozer-Keystone Health System, visit http://ckcancer.crozer.org. To request an appointment with a physician who treats cancer patients, call 1-866-695-HOPE (1-866-695-4673).