Intro: Welcome to Conversations on Cancer, brought to you by the Riverside Cancer Institute, providing answers, debunking myths, and sharing patient stories.

Dr. Ahsan Basha (Host): Hi, this is Dr. Ahsan Basha. Welcome again to our podcast, The ‘C’ Word, Community Not Cancer. Today, we have a special guest, Patricia Huber. Ms. Huber is a patient of one of my partners, Dr. Cassandra Lacher. And welcome to this podcast.

Patricia Huber: Thank you.

Host: You've been going on through this for almost two and a half years now; three years this summer. Ms. Huber was diagnosed with primary peritoneal cancer, which is a gynecological cancer, and first presented to Dr. Lacher back in June of '23. Tell me how you felt when you first felt something was wrong, like what was going through your mind at that time?

Patricia Huber: I thought it was a heart problem at first, because it was like shortness of breath, but no pain. And then, it got worse. So, we went to the emergency room, and then they put me through some tests. And then, first thing you know, I had to stay there. And then, the doctor, she came in and was saying that I had cervical cancer and stuff. And we just looked at each other because I didn't expect that, you know. And that's the way it was. I mean, we just looked at each other, and then she started talking to us about it and everything. And I didn't have a lot of questions or anything. And then, you didn't feel that until you came home. And we'd talk about it at night. It wasn't a good night.

Host: So, when you first come in, it's kind of overwhelming. You're not expecting it.

Patricia Huber: It is. You go, "I have what?" You know, it is very overwhelming.

Host: Okay. So, I guess eventually you got to Dr. Lacher.

Patricia Huber: Right.

Host: And she started explaining things to you. How was the time between finding that out And then Dr. Lacher explaining to you? Like, what were you doing at home? What kind of experiences were you having? What were you using for support to ease your mind, if anything?

Patricia Huber: Well, Don, he was very good at that. And we'd think of things to do. And then, my girls, once they got past it and everything. So, that's what we did. And then, we still had that first few weeks, it's still bad. But then, I came out of it, and then started planning this and planning that. And nighttime was the worst for a while.

Host: Then, after Dr. Lacher explained to you a little bit about what was happening inside of you, how did you experience that?

Patricia Huber: I felt more confident. And I liked her from the very beginning. And she just made me feel calmer. And the way she talked, like, there's a lot of hope and she was telling me about different medications. So really, I'm sitting there. I couldn't wait to have a medication.

Host: Got it.

Patricia Huber: Because I figured there's a lot out there, a lot more than in the past. So, she made it very easy for us.

Host: Good, good. And so then, you started your first type of chemotherapy back in, I think, July or August of that year. And you've been kind of going through ever since, really, with one treatment or another.

Patricia Huber: Yeah. I've gone through either three or four. I started another new one too.

Host: Five actually.

Patricia Huber: Oh, I have gone through five. Well, look at me go.

Host: Including the one you're on now, yeah. That's including the one you're just starting now.

Patricia Huber: She gets me a new one, if she doesn't see the numbers, you know, she takes me off. And we get a new one. And she always says, "I got something else in my hip pocket." And, you know, it just makes you feel content, if that's the word.

Host: So, that's the good part of things, that she always has something in her hip pocket. But how does it feel when you get word that it's not working? Does that have any effect on you?

Patricia Huber: It does sometimes. Like in the beginning on some of them, it did, it got me very upset and I had a bad time. Well, all of us had a bad time. Because when they say it's not you, it's your whole family that has it, which is true. And it was very hard. But then, I got used to, "Okay, this is not working, so we're trying such and such." So, I got to the point where, "Okay," and I was looking forward to the next step. But it took a while, a couple of different chemos for that. But you got to put your mind in the right set too. So, that has a lot to do with it.

Host: So, tell me how you put your mind in the right set.

Patricia Huber: I just don't want to be upset all the time. I just don't like it. So, we just think of things to do or we go on errands or the kids that come over. Mostly, if we have a grandchild over, that's a good thing, staying overnight. But you got to work at it. It just doesn't come to you. It comes to me now easier, but it doesn't in the beginning. You got to think about it and work at it. But it gets easier.

Host: Yeah. So again, part of the podcast's intention is to try to help people hear about strategy that different people have. So when you said back in the beginning and you had to intentionally get your mind to that place of calmness, what is your approach normally? Is it mostly family? Is it friends? Is it other things? Is it yourself? What do you do?

Patricia Huber: I think it's myself and family. And then, my friends, because the girls I went to high school and stuff, we always had a plan every month and then a couple of them every month, just the three of us. So, I tried always to keep kind of busy. And we always had a list of things to do that we'd go and get. And, you know, it just helps a lot.

Host: Keeping yourself moving.

Patricia Huber: Yeah. And the girls, my girls were either over or they called all the time. And all the kids, the whole family, they were very supportive and very good, because they knew I wouldn't like that being mopey around me because nothing's worse, then you'll make me mopey, you know, which is true, you know.

Host: It is definitely something for the family of patients to know.

Patricia Huber: It's hard to say that to a family member, because they have to go through it themselves to get into that. They do.

Host: No. I mean, everybody's affected.

Patricia Huber: Everybody is, even my friends.

Host: And you are definitely creating the world of community around you, and that's really what we love seeing. I've read that you've had a fair amount of side effects with the chemotherapies and things like that.

Patricia Huber: At different points.

Host: Yeah. I've seen some things there. Tell me a little bit about how you're—do you have a fitness routine? Do you have some kind of activity that you do to keep yourself physically in good shape, given that you've been through so many treatments?

Patricia Huber: Well, I'm not an exercise person or anything. I like the different puzzles that I do. I keep my mind going on that. And there's different shows that I like, that I watch them. And then, other thing is I love cooking. I'm always thinking of something for dinner, and I've always liked cooking. And that keeps your mind busy too. And I try to do what I can. Sometimes I get too huffy, you know, the breathing part, and I can't do a lot of things that I want to do. But then, when I sit and rest for a little while, then I can start over again.

Host: You come across to me as very positive, and I love hearing about that from you.

Patricia Huber: I am trying to be very positive. It makes it better, you know. It makes life a lot easier.

Host: Yeah. Tell me about, if you don't mind, what your experience is when you come into the building here.

Patricia Huber: It's been wonderful from the first time I came. I mean, every one of them are just wonderful. The attention they give you and always checking on you. And it's a wonderful place. It really is. So, I don't dread when it's time to come. I don't dread it. I mean, there's no sense in that, you know?

Host: Because you have yourself a little community here as well.

Patricia Huber: Yeah. And that's what's really nice, because you walk in and I've been coming here for such a while that they remember your name and when you walk by they say hi, you know, and call you by name and stuff and say, "Oh no, you can come over and sit over here." And it's just really nice. It's like a second family, really.

Host: Tell me a little bit about your daughters. How did you first tell them about your cancer, how you handled that?

Patricia Huber: I think because it was such a surprise that I can honestly tell you I don't remember how I did that. Because it was really a shock. I know I called and told them, and they were upset and everything. But I think it was because the whole thing for a while was such a shock that I honestly don't remember how I approached them.

Host: Okay. Okay. Yeah, it seems like they're very involved right now. They're part of your support.

Patricia Huber: Oh yeah. They're good.

Host: They're a big part of your support. Tell me about how your husband keeps you supported.

Patricia Huber: He sees what I can't do, and then he does it. And he does a lot of things to help me since he knows I can't do everything that I used to do. And then, he'll go out to the shed and garage and do what he wants to do. And if I need him, I just call him. And, you know, "I need help with this, and, you know, he comes in and we have a relationship like that. And then, we go on our errands, decide where do you want to go, and then we make our list and off we go.

Host: So if you were to offer a person who's just getting a diagnosis for the first time of a cancer, what kind of advice would you give them now knowing where you're at now?

Patricia Huber: I would tell them that the first maybe a week or so, they'll be going through their own thing. It's not going to be a fun thing. They have to do their own experience and that. But as time goes, they will hopefully get to a mindset where they'll have less time of feeling bad and more time of just accepting this is what it is and carry on, you know, with the family and all that. But everybody has a different timeline for that. But they have to work at that, because I had to work at it, so... yeah.

Host: And we still work at it, right, pretty much.

Patricia Huber: You have to, at different times. And if Dr. Lacher has something to say from one of my scans that I'm not real happy with, I have to go through that again, which that's what happens because of the severity of what I have. So, that's just the way it is. And then, it passes again and continue on.

Host: So basically, you're a person who takes the news, processes it through, but then keeps on moving. That's kind of what it is.

Patricia Huber: Yeah, because I don't like the bad attitude thing. It brings me down and I don't want to be brought down, because nobody else will want to be around me if I do that.

Host: I can't see that would be an issue with you. I can see people wanting to be around you for the long as possible.

Patricia Huber: Well... But anyway, it takes time, but it does happen. And then, this is just the way it is. And it's not that bad. I mean, when you come here, you know this is what it's going to be and that's what your routine is.

Host: Got it. You create something. Any other support that you have that you use, either strategies of meeting certain people. You've mentioned you have planned activities and things like that that you keep to and stick to them.

Patricia Huber: Not really. Like, our social life isn't the way it was either. But still, we get invited to a few parties and everything. It's a little different, but we do go. But a lot of things are a little different in that. And it took a while getting used to that, because we always went out a lot. And that took a little getting used to, but it worked. And still, we have a couple of them that invite us to different stuff. And we still have a wonderful time.

Host: Yeah. Good.

Patricia Huber: So, that's good.

Host: Good. Okay. I mean, And so, really, what I'm getting is you're living your life to the fullest that you can at this point.

Patricia Huber: I am.

Host: You're just taking it for what it is.

Patricia Huber: I don't see anything I regret right now because I don't regret anything. I'm just doing the best I can.

Host: Yeah. Any other words of advice for people either who are dealing with cancer or for the people around helping those with cancer? Things that have helped you, and what kind of advice would you have.

Patricia Huber: Well, the more you talk to family too after a while, try and make them comfortable, and then they can relate to you. And then, all of a sudden, you're all on the same page pretty much. And you enjoy yourself. And when they come over to visit, it's a lot of fun and, you know. But it takes a while to get there.

Host: Yeah.

Patricia Huber: But we do a lot of the family thing anyway.

Host: Well, I do appreciate you taking the time to come in and talk and sharing your experience.

Patricia Huber: Well, thank you for asking me.

Host: I think that's the most important thing is that people share their experience and it helps others who are starting their journey or wherever they're in their journey, to just be able to relate. That's the purpose of this podcast. And so, I really appreciate you coming on and sharing.

Patricia Huber: Thank you. thank you for asking me.

Host: Yeah. Thank you again for listening to this podcast, The "C" Word, Community Not Cancer. And we look forward to sharing more stories in the future.