You may not guess that Mildred has been fighting a very long battle with lung cancer. She doesn't let it interfere with her life and however she feels about her cancer, she isn't likely to talk too much about it. That's partly because she's rational, not emotional, about life; partly because she believes action is better than worry; and partly because she made a connection with H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute soon after she was diagnosed.
She had no previous health problems, so when she felt something was wrong, she didn't rush to the doctor. But when she did finally see a doctor, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. She knew she had more life to live, and she was not about to let cancer change her way of life. So, when a friend recommended the cancer center, she behaved in typical Mildred fashion. She made a very rational decision. Says Mildred: "My friend told me I had the best place for care right in my backyard (Moffitt)."
"I tend not to show my emotions," she says. "I just take it in stride.I take life as it comes." She tries not to worry: worry won't solve a problem, she says. Her motto: "worry won't change anything,so accept what life brings and move forward."
During Mildred's treatment, a clinical trial began that was just right for her type of lung cancer. She knew nothing about clinical trials,but she trusted her doctor. "I didn't hesitate," she says, "I wanted to make sure I took advantage of everything." And not only for herself: "I was happy to oblige if it helped me and anyone else too."
These days, Mildred is content with her life and happy with her longevity. At 89, she has no intentions of slowing down despite her battles with cancer. "She leaves me in the dirt," her daughter admits. Among her many interests and activities, she is a caregiver for a partially blind man who is also 89. She looks forward to seeing her medical team for check ups.The staff at Moffitt are a bright spot in her life and she enjoys her visits very much.She knows she has beaten the odds several times, and she is grateful for that. When she smiles and says, "Life has been good," you know she means it.
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