Editor's note: This is a feature from the Waynesboro Area Gala Cancer Auction Committee that shares a community member's fight against cancer. The articles were in advance of the 2020 auction, which has been canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Listen to your body. If its telling you somethings just not right, pay attention, Cindy Smith advises. A year ago, February 2019, her symptoms began. They might well have indicated irritable bowel or acid reflux, but neither scenario fit how she was feeling. By March she finally couldnt ignore the messages her body was sending her. When the sharp abdominal pains that at first occurred only briefly in the morning hit her midafternoon, she gave in and consulted gastroentrologist Andrew Lininger at WellSpan Health in Waynesboro. Within less than 24 hours, he called with the results of her CT scan that revealed a golf ball-sized growth in her abdomen. The colonoscopy that followed was unsuccessful because of a bowel blockage and within the week Cindy was meeting with Dr. Joshua Kesterson at Hershey Medical center. My doctors were wonderful, Cindy shared. I cant believe how quickly they acted and how compassionate they were.

On March 21, 2019 surgery performed at Hershey successfully removed Cindys ovaries, the large tumor and a few much smaller ones from her diaphragm everything Dr. Kesterson was able to find. Two weeks later, April 3, the diagnosis was confirmed stage three ovarian cancer that had spread to the area between her bladder and colon. Cindy was stunned. As she recalls the scene, When the doctor started explaining things he sounded like the teacher on the Charlie Brown cartoons Wa wa, wa wa, wa wa. It was unreal. I couldnt comprehend it was really happening. Id been so healthy my whole life. How? How did this happen? I couldnt make sense of it.

April 24 began a series of six three-treatment sessions, a total of 16 over the next five months. One of the repeated treatments took six hours and another lasted eight. Cindy opted for the most aggressive chemo that involved the insertion of two ports one on the front of her shoulder feeding directly into her blood stream and another on her stomach feeding directly into her abdominal cavity. The second was notorious for being very intense and painful, flooding the entire abdominal area with drugs. Most patients were able to endure less than half of the bag of medication, but Cindy quickly earned the handle of Rock Star by taking on the entire dosage with her worst discomfort during the infusion being an uncomfortable distention of her stomach. Three days later, when the steroids and anti-nausea medication wore off she crashed. I spent all of those months in a recliner totally exhausted, no appetite or taste buds to tolerate food. I lost 30 pounds. Sometimes I tried to do small chores in the kitchen, but twice I had to sit down, call for my husband Alan, and actually pass out with my head resting on the table. For the two days needed to complete each of her sessions at Hershey, Alan had a recliner delivered to Cindys sister Tamis house in Hummelstown just five miles from Hershey where they stayed along with their faithful dogs, Sofi and Gracie. The gauntlet finally ended on Aug. 14.

On Sept. 11 following her rebound to strength after the final treatment, CT scans and a CA125 blood test that checks for cancer markers revealed that Cindy was cancer free. Genetic testing that followed was good news for her daughters Tracye and Mandy because the strain isnt passed on, but not so good for Cindy. Her cancer is notorious for recurring and requires significant post treatment to discourage that. Maintenance therapy demands constant monitoring to achieve the proper balance that keeps the cancer at bay but doesnt deplete her hemoglobin and platelet counts.

Still, after all those months she was starting to feel like Cindy again sleeping in a real bed and taking a trip to the beach. But then her counts dropped so low, some essentially zero, that she was hospitalized for a few days. After transfusions and medication, she bounced back as her doctor made adjustments to find the right dosage. The newest and to date most effective maintenance drug for Cindys condition is called Zejula and fortunately she has been approved to receive it at no cost - a type of clinical trial situation. She recently successfully staved off a case of bronchial flu and is adjusting to her new, curlier hair. Her last CA125 blood test was excellent. A reading of 35 is indicative of no significant cancer and Cindys was 10. Lots of fingers are crossed that this continues.

As effusive as Cindys praise is for her doctors, the strides in treatment options and the loving support of family and friends, she credits her faith for being her mainstay through her ordeal. From the minute I got the diagnosis until this very day Ive handed my burden over to God. I trusted his hands and not my own strength. Ive never asked Why me? and am struck time after time with how blessed Ive been and how much more other people suffer. She continued, My whole perspective on life has changed. Little things like slow traffic or other minor inconveniences just dont upset me anymore. Not after this.

Cindys attitude, fortitude and spirit are an inspiration to others facing similar struggles. Since cancer has invaded her body she appreciates the unique burden she shares with other cancer victims. Its a constant battle, one that feels endless. Each checkup resurrects the fear that only an "all clear" result can allay. One of her doctors describes the ongoing follow-up as an umbilical cord keeping hope and reassurance alive. Cindy couldnt agree more.

Cancer touches an enormous number of individuals. Research and support for its victims need to continue until a cure is finally found. The Waynesboro Area Gala Cancer Auction has been highly successful in raising funds to sustain this cause for the past 38 years. Reluctantly, the auction committee has determined that the best course of action, given the ongoing circumstances and uncertainty associated with the coronavirus epidemic, is to cancel this years 39th auction that had been rescheduled for July 25. Please visit their website http://www.wagca.org for further details or to make a contribution to the cause. All monetary donations will still be distributed to area organizations this year.

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Smith shares story of her battle with cancer - Waynesboro Record Herald

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