January, 1998. Michele begins having occasional abdominal discomfort. Complains of feeling bloated and full. Dismisses it as gas or digestion problems. She tries various over the counter medicines for gas, indigestion, etc in an attempt for relief. Feelings of fullness and bloating continue and eventually become more painful over the next couple of months.

A pelvic examination with her family doctor reveal something resembling a large cyst. She is referred to her gynecologist. All indications from the gynecological exam hint this is nothing more than a benign cyst and laparascopic surgery is scheduled.

April, 1998. During the scheduled outpatient surgery, it is found that the suspected benign mass has characteristics of something much more alarming and malignant. A malignant tumor of the left ovary is removed. The tumor size is 13.5 x 11 x 5.5 centimeters. Pathology tests confirm small cell carcinoma of the ovary. Independent confirmation of diagnosis by Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Cancer Center indicate the same. There is no indication of spread visible during surgery, CT scan and X-Rays. Calcium levels were normal.

Summer, 1998. After consulting with several major cancer centers and our local doctors, a chemotherapy regimen commonly called VIP is agreed on. This consists of 4 rounds (one round every 3 weeks) of VP-16, Ifex, and Cisplatin. Overall, the chemotherapy is tolerated fairly well. This is credited to Michele’s overall good health and mental optimism toward treatment.

August 1998 - December 1998. Michele’s health and energy return and she resumes teaching. Regular CT scans and follow-up exams revealed no further spread. Her life returns to some sense of normalcy.

January, 1999. CT scans reveal suspicious cyst on remaining ovary. Hysterectomy performed. The removed ovary and fallopian tubes test normal, however, several small nodules no bigger than a centimeter are found on and removed from the peritoneal lining. Test confirm malignant cells in nodules. The cancer is back.

February, 1999 - April, 1999. After consulting again with major cancer centers, the decision to go with Taxol is made. Michele undergoes four rounds of Taxol chemotherapy. CT scan after 4th round reveal 4 tumors ranging in size from 2-4 cm in abdomen. None are located on the vital organs. No spread elsewhere. Obviously, the Taxol is not working if the tumors are growing during treatment. We need to try something else.

April, 1999. Michele begins chemotherapy treatment with Topetecan. Shortly after first round of treatment, Michele begins accumulating fluid in her abdomen. During a 4 day hospital day, she is tapped each day due to the pressure and pain. Nearly 8 liters of fluid is tapped over the period. Tests indicate a thickening of her mesentery (a membrane connected to the intestines) which is presumed to be cancerous.

May 8, 1999. Michele undergoes a treatment of intraperitoneal cisplaten in an attempt to halt the fluid. 2 days later, she is tapped again to remove fluid. At that point the fluid buildup has halted.

May 14, 1999. Michele’s creatinine level is 7.0. This indicates a problem with kidney function (probably due to the chemotherapy). She is admitted for 4 days again to address it with hydration and TPN nutrition. Creatinine level begins dropping.

May 20, 1999. Michele undergoes a blood transfusion for low hemoglobin. She begins eating on her own again. Pain issues are addressed as needed with medication. She has a slight accumulation of fluid in abdomen that we hope is just from the TPN and hydration since her hands, face, and feet are also slightly swollen.

We assume the cisplaten had some effect on the mesentery cancer and stopped the fluid accumulation. Michele’s doctor would like to do another intraperitoneal treatment once she is ready and then IV cisplaten once stabilized after that.

With everything Michele has been through, her mental attitude is that she does not want any more chemotherapy. She has been through 4 different chemo treatments already. She wants to get to a state where she feels relatively good and her functions are normal so that she can pursue non-chemo options if any are or become available. She honestly and strongly believes if she can get a healthy window, she needs to give either a vaccine therapy, gene therapy, or some type of angio/endo-staten type treatment for tumors a chance. If it doesn't work, at least she would know she tried something else. The trick is finding one for her. Michele refuses any further chemotherapy treatments. We begin our search for gene therapy or tumor vaccine trials.

June 10, 1999. The closest acceptable place we like is located in Bloomington, Indiana. We visit for an evaluation and meeting with the director. Michele is accepted for treatment for both a tumor cell vaccine trial and an Interleukin-2 trial. We are warned that both of these treatments are slow by nature (measured in months) to take effect and that Michele may not have enough time based on her current condition. We return home and continue preparation for the trials at home.

June 15, 1999. Michele’s condition has deteriorated drastically and is admitted to hospital. She is in severe pain and is heavily medicated 24 hours per day to control the pain.

June 19, 1999. Michele passes away.