“It’s as important to a lot of patients not only what happens to them, but how things are explained to them”
to a lot of patients not only what
happens to them, but how things
are explained to them,” says Chen.
“And how good news and bad news is
delivered.”
Not every patient’s cancer is
curable, he says, “but there are
always things—and I use that term
loosely—that can be done to improve
the situation,” such as raising a
patient’s energy level or treating pain
to improve the person’s quality of life.
In Cropper’s case, biopsies found
that bladder cancer cells had
spread to some of her lymph nodes.
Because follow-up CT scans indicated
that the lymph nodes were not
growing, and Cropper’s quality of life
hasn’t been compromised, doctors
plan to monitor her progress
with bimonthly scans.
“She understands that at some
point, she may be recommended to
get more treatment,” says Chen.
“But until that happens, she’s
very positive.”
A woman deeply rooted in faith,
Cropper says God has helped her
face her diagnosis. “I never said, ‘Why
me?’ ” she says. “I’m no different
than anybody else. But this is another
one of these trials you have to go
through. I had a son die right in
my arms. He had asthma. God took
me through that. My husband died.
God took me through that. So I just
said, ‘Just another trial, Lord.’ And I
believe he’ll take me through this.”
CR | Page No. 53 | www.CRmagazine.org
