After 40 years of traveling all over the world as a travel consultant/host, it鈥檚 clear that Barbara Atwater does not like to sit still. But when she was diagnosed with lung cancer, she reset her life to focus on survival 鈥 to ensure she would live to travel again.
Barbara鈥檚 relationship with Rush started in early 2018 when she was referred to thoracic surgeon , to treat a rare thymic cancer.
鈥淲hen I first met with Dr. Seder, I was so impressed,鈥 says Barbara. 鈥淏ut it wasn鈥檛 just him, there was a whole team of experts who were there to take care of me. One time, I checked in for an appointment and on my way to the waiting room, I walked by a conference room. Sure enough, I saw Dr. Seder and all these other doctors and providers around a table. He told me later that they were discussing me. That鈥檚 a good feeling. It made me feel really important and like I was going to be OK.鈥
After the surgery, Barbara underwent six weeks of radiation therapy and then had a PET scan of her lungs, which revealed some abnormal nodules. Seder and his team continued to monitor Barbara鈥檚 lungs, letting her know that she would likely need surgery down the road if the nodules developed into lung cancer.
Barbara was scared, but she took advantage of the wait-and-see period. She continued working and led tours to Greece, Germany, Phoenix and Oregon. 鈥淚 wanted to pack it all in,鈥 she says.
Lung cancer surgery
By October 2019, Seder let Barbara know that she would need surgery to remove a lung tumor. She remembers: 鈥淚 told my daughter, 鈥楾hat鈥檚 it, I鈥檓 done.鈥 But Dr. Seder and his team said, 鈥楴o, Barbara, you are not done. You can survive and still live a full life. We鈥檙e here for you and we鈥檒l work with you.鈥欌
During the surgery, Seder removed about one-third of Barbara鈥檚 left lung, leaving her cancer-free without a need for chemotherapy or radiation therapy. She was, however, in pain and extremely weak, which is to be expected after this type of surgery.
Her care team was with her every step of the way, managing her pain and guiding her through her recovery.
鈥淓very time I contacted them through MyChart or with a phone call, they got back to me right away,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 must have contacted them every other day for weeks after the surgery. And every time, they called me right back, calmed me down and addressed my concerns. They also reminded me that this was major surgery and that it would take time to heal.鈥
The road to recovery
Barbara鈥檚 care team also enrolled her in the pulmonary rehabilitation program at Rush Oak Park Hospital to help her regain her strength and improve her lung function.
The six- to eight-week program helped Barbara turn the corner in her recovery. 鈥淲hen I first walked into the pulmonary rehab suite at Rush Oak Park, I again thought, 鈥業鈥檓 done. I can鈥檛 do this,鈥欌 she says. 鈥淏ut low and behold, it ended up being one of the greatest experiences of my life.鈥
Barbara went to rehab Monday through Friday for eight weeks. 鈥淓verything I did in rehab helped me get my strength back,鈥 she says. 鈥淚t was hard, but I knew I had to work hard because I couldn鈥檛 just sit around forever. I still wanted to work and live my life.鈥
During rehab, Barbara focused on her exercises and re-learned how to engage her diaphragm to breathe more effectively. 鈥淭he exercises started out really difficult, but they got easier as I regained my strength,鈥 she says. 鈥淏y the end of rehab, I was able to walk, my blood pressure and oxygen levels improved, and I felt really good.鈥
When she finished the program, she was not only physically stronger, but she felt confident and proud. 鈥淎t the end of the program, my therapists in the program said, 鈥楲ook at what you did, and what you鈥檝e accomplished, it鈥檚 amazing and you should be proud of yourself,鈥 and I was,鈥 says Barbara. 鈥淪ome people may want to give up. But not me. I have a big family, and I鈥檓 not ready to say good-bye. I have a lot left to do. I want to see so many more things in the world.鈥
Looking forward
Today, a year after her lung cancer surgery, Barbara is still cancer-free and continues her follow-ups with Seder.
鈥淚t鈥檚 scary to call yourself a cancer survivor, but then I think to myself: I鈥檝e made it, I did it 鈥 and that felt good,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 have been fortunate enough to have Dr. Seder and the rest of my team at Rush, my family and everyone pushing me even after I was home.鈥
Barbara is now even looking ahead, planning tours around the world this year once the COVID-19 pandemic ends. 鈥淚鈥檝e learned how powerful it is to focus on the good things in your life and look out the front window rather than the rearview mirror,鈥 she says.
