Wanda Veld was feeling tired but otherwise fine when she went to RUSH for her annual mammogram in 2010. That's until doctors discovered an unusual spot in her left breast 鈥 but it wasn鈥檛 what you might think.
After a second mammogram, then a biopsy, the grandmother of six from Crete, Illinois, was diagnosed with stage four mantle cell, non-Hodgkin lymphoma 鈥 an incurable type of blood cancer.
鈥淏eing told you have cancer 鈥 and that it can鈥檛 be cured but controlled 鈥 was a sobering experience,鈥 says Wanda, who has been a patient at RUSH for more than 60 years. 鈥淚t was really a sock in the stomach.鈥
A rare diagnosis
Mantle cell lymphoma is an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, representing only cases in the United States.
鈥淭here are a variety of lymphomas 鈥 some curable and some not,鈥 says , a hematologist at RUSH, who was one of Wanda鈥檚 doctors. 鈥淲hile mantle cell lymphoma is one of the most treatable types of lymphomas, it鈥檚 not considered curable as it has a tendency to relapse.鈥
With the available treatment options at that time, Wanda鈥檚 doctors said she had between three to five years to live but that didn鈥檛 stop her from pursuing treatment.
鈥淲hen I was diagnosed, I realized that some things are not very important anymore, and other things are very important 鈥 and I established that quick,鈥 she says. 鈥淪o, I decided I would have quality years and started treatment.鈥
Wanda鈥檚 new birthday
Wanda鈥檚 doctors recommended a stem cell transplant 鈥 in which stems cells damaged by cancer are replaced with healthy ones.
It was tough going, though, as Wanda鈥檚 white blood cells that protect against illness plummeted.
鈥淭here were nights that I'd go home and wonder if she was going be there tomorrow because she was so down,鈥 says Wanda鈥檚 husband and caretaker, Jim Veld. 鈥淏ut she handled it like a trooper.鈥
And on March 16, 2011, Wanda celebrated her new birthday 鈥 a day that many patients who have a stem cell transplant recognize when the healthy cells enter and reset the body.
鈥淚 remember my nurses came in with this cupcake to celebrate my new birthday,鈥 Wanda says. 鈥淭hey made a big thing of it, which was sweet.鈥
A setback
After her stem cell transplant, Wanda鈥檚 doctors found cancer cells in her bone marrow.
Wanda started chemotherapy and completed her final round in 2014. Since then, she has been in remission without any evidence of cancer.
As part of her follow-up care, Wanda was put on an antibody maintenance treatment that she received through an IV, every six weeks for nine years.
鈥淎 common effect of lymphoma treatment is lower levels of immunoglobulins 鈥 or proteins in the blood that protect us from infections,鈥 Venugopal says. 鈥淭he antibody maintenance that Wanda received, known as intravenous immunoglobulin, helped her from getting repeated infections post-treatment.鈥
Completing more than a decade of treatment
After 13 years of care, Wanda had her last maintenance treatment in April of this year.
鈥淚 have energy and quality of life, and I feel great,鈥 Wanda says. 鈥淎nd I had my favorite nurse Laurie by my side at my last treatment, so that was good way to finish it up.鈥
Venugopal commends Wanda for her 鈥渞esilience, positive attitude and optimism鈥 during treatment.
鈥淭he way she handled her cancer not only encourages the caretakers, but also encourages other patients, too,鈥 he says. 鈥淓ven when she was not feeling well, she encouraged everyone 鈥 and that is not something everyone can do.鈥
'Every day is a gift, and I鈥檓 so grateful to God and RUSH'
There isn鈥檛 a standard screening tool for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and without any major symptoms, it can be difficult to diagnose.
鈥淚f I wouldn鈥檛 have gone for my yearly mammogram, I never would have known that I had cancer,鈥 she says. 鈥淪o, I ask people all the time, 鈥楧id you get your mammogram? They're very important.鈥欌
Venugopal also emphasizes how critical it is to keep up with your routine screenings and appointments with your primary care doctor.
鈥淲hether it鈥檚 a colonoscopy, mammogram or Pap smear,鈥 Venugopal says, 鈥渢hese are things you should not take lightly. Diseases are most treatable and curable when you catch them early.鈥
Wanda is thankful she decided to get her mammogram 鈥 and for her team at RUSH.
鈥淚 got to witness four of my family members鈥 weddings and all of my grandkids鈥 graduations that I never would have,鈥 Wanda says. 鈥淓very day is a gift, and I鈥檓 so grateful to god and RUSH.鈥
