By: Erica Miller, Integris Bass Baptist Health Center
Dave and Linda Jones, of Waukomis, are the type of couple who can, and do, finish one another’s sentences. They have been married for 45 years, and the bond they share is evident. Their faith is the foundation of their marriage, and both their relationship and belief in God have become stronger as they have faced Linda’s breast cancer diagnosis and treatment as a team.
Just a few short months ago, Linda believed she had stage IV cancer, both in her breast and in her lungs. But, as you will learn, God had other plans for Linda. “In 2020, when COVID hit, we did what a lot of people did, and we skipped our regular doctor appointments and our preventive care tests and scans,” Linda said.
In early 2022, Dave and Linda established care with INTEGRIS Health family physician, Chris Shearer, D.O., who wanted to make sure they both went through all the recommended tests and scans they missed over the last two years.
“I went in for my mammogram in April, and within two hours I received a call back from INTEGRIS Bass radiology,” Linda said. “I was told they saw something suspicious, and I needed to undergo a second test.”
That was followed up with an ultrasound and then a biopsy of the mass. The test came back positive for cancer.
“It happened quickly, and it was overwhelming,” Linda said. “My sister had breast cancer thirty years ago.” Fortunately, she beat it and has been cancer-free for decades. Linda’s mother, however, died of pancreatic cancer and liver cancer.
Linda’s cancer was found to be triple positive, meaning hormone-positive (both estrogen and progesterone) and HER2-positive. HER2-positive cancers are considered more aggressive and are often treated with chemotherapy. Linda was recommended to undergo chemotherapy before surgery.
She also underwent genetic testing, which showed she carries a high risk of breast cancer due to a mutation on her PALB2 gene, which places her at increased risk for breast cancer.
Linda was referred to INTEGRIS Health general surgeon John Goulart, D.O., to discuss her options. Goulart ordered additional tests to determine if the cancer had spread to other areas of her body. A PET scan showed nodules in her lungs, which took her cancer diagnosis from stage I to stage IV. “That was a really hard time,” Linda reflected. “I was ready to start treating the cancer that I knew was killing me, but the doctors needed more information before we could move forward with treatment.”
“Dr. Goulart referred me to INTEGRIS Health Breast Surgery in Oklahoma City and surgical oncologist Nicole Sharp,” Linda said. “Dr. Sharp meticulously went through every single test that had been done.”
Before starting treatment with Sumbal Nabi, M.D., at the INTEGRIS Health Cancer Institute in Enid, the doctors needed to find out if nodules in Linda’s lungs were cancerous. “I had the lung biopsy in June,” Linda said. They prayed as a family, along with prayer warriors from across the nation.
“We have a faith, and I am not afraid of dying,” she said. “With a stage IV cancer diagnosis, I was sad about everything I thought I was going to miss.”
Again, God had other plans.
The biopsy results were negative, and Linda’s cancer diagnosis was recategorized to stage I, with cancer only located in her breast.
“The news changed everything,” Linda said. “I had already planned my funeral songs before we found out the lung nodules were benign. It was truly a blessing from God.”
Linda followed up with INTEGRIS Pulmonology Associates Enid pulmonologist Sarah Matousek, M.D. “Every lobe in my lungs has nodules, but Dr. Matousek said that with guarded optimism, we are going to take the results of the biopsy to mean the other nodules are benign as well, but that we would keep a close eye on them.”
Linda believes her strong faith resulted in a miracle. “I know it was prayer. I have such a team behind me.”
In June, Linda’s daughter, Tiffani, and her friend, Marla Fuxa, began selling rubber bracelets and shirts to help with her expenses. “A few weeks ago, after Sunday church service, my daughter knocked at the front door, and when I opened the door, there were dozens of people in my yard wearing the shirts,” Linda said. The shirts display the words, “Heal Cancer,” with “He” and “Can” highlighted.
In August, Linda began six rounds of chemotherapy treatments with Dr. Nabi at the INTEGRIS Health Cancer Institute in Enid. As of the first week in October, Linda has completed three rounds and is more than halfway done.
“I love everyone here at Bass in the cancer center,” Linda said. “The first day of treatment I received a quilt made by the Cherokee Strip Quilters Guild. I had built up so much anticipation for the treatment, but the nurses were so loving and attentive to my needs. They make me feel like a queen, and they are so good to Dave as well.”
The struggle has been difficult for Linda and her family, but she is grateful for the support she has received. “Everyone has been positive and encouraging. They want me to fight this and get well.”
According to Dave and Linda, they will continue catching up on their preventive tests, where the journey began. “We want to do everything we can here in Enid,” Dave said. “We believe there is great, quality health care here in Enid, and that’s how we will keep it here. By utilizing it.”
Following chemotherapy, Linda will meet again with Dr. Sharp to schedule a bilateral mastectomy. She plans to pursue a risk-reducing surgery to lower her risk of ovarian cancer as well due to her increased risk from her PALB2 mutation.
Their daughter, who is 43, plans to undergo testing to see if she, too, has the genetic disposition for the cancer.
“We just keep praying,” Linda said. “I so appreciate this place. The option to be here, close to home for treatment, means so much to us. I know the tumor is reduced. I can already feel it. I know I am in good hands.”
