Senior Minister's Walk with Cancer
On November 1, 2006, in a letter to the congregation, Drew Kennedy announced that he recently discovered he has cancer. He said,
"I am lucky. The cancer I have is a relatively “good” cancer to have. I am otherwise in excellent health and we caught it early. There are over 200 different kinds of cancer, each with its own name and treatment, stage and grade. I have cancer of the lymphatic system. It is called a non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Of the approximately 20 different types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, mine is an indolent (slow-growing) follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma that is typically eminently treatable with good prognoses."
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Tom Heinen wrote a wonderful article about Drew's response to his cancer diagnosis. The article may be found at: http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=529711
Following the surgical removal of a small tumor, in the December 7, 2006 edition of the First Unitarian Society's newsletter, The Chanticleer, Drew updated the congregation:
"Well, the tests are all in and the news is good. I have a slow-growing, systemic kind of cancer that currently requires no further treatment whatsoever. I will be closely monitored every three months (with CT scans and PET scans, etc.) as there are some lymph nodes they want to keep an eye on. But both my oncologist at the Comprehensive Cancer Center at UW-Madison (and a nationally known lymphoma specialist) and my local oncologist agree that since I have no symptoms at all, at the present time there is no need for either radiation or chemotherapy. My prognosis is good. While there are all kinds of uncertainties, I could well live with this for decades. And even if I do need treatment at some later time, there are effective treatments available.
"Many thanks to all of you who have “walked” with me through this and held me so close in your hearts. Your support has been invaluable. I think we can all set this aside for now and get on with this wild and precious life of ours! I’ll keep you posted if and when things change...."
In an April 9, 2007 update in the church’s newsletter, Drew wrote:
". . . I had my first routine, quarterly cancer check with a combined PET and CT scan. The scans revealed, and a needle biopsy has since confirmed, I . . . have had a recurrence of cancer, in my case in another small tumor in my groin area.
This time, we’ve decided to treat it with something called Rituximab (Rituxan). It's chemotherapy-lite. They also call it “bio-therapy”. . . .
Emotionally and spiritually, I am both chastened and happy to admit that this latest turn has taken me to a deeper level in my dance with cancer. I have had some awesome little “kensho” moments of enlightenment and insight. These have been deeply enriching. Meanwhile, Lois and daily T'ai Chi continue to be wonderful companions. Also, significantly, following knee surgery in January, I have resumed playing soccer. We’re still playing indoors, but I can’t wait to get outdoors!
As before, my requests are simple. I ask you to help me by being as attentive to one another as you would be to me. Be more fully present to one another, and to your own wild and precious lives. Don’t wait; be kind and generous now. Everyday. “Walk with me” on this part of my wild and precious life, and understand, please, if I need to take some extra time to process my life, and at times just to sleep. . . . "
A second Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article about Drew’s “walk with cancer” appeared in early June 2007. This article may be found at: http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=617127
After eight weeks of chemotherapy, which Drew tolerated very well, tests in June 2007 showed Drew clear of any active lymphoma. He missed almost no work throughout his chemotherapy and, indeed, continued to play soccer every week!