8 Bringing health care news to your home At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, most people were worried about contracting the coronavirus. But RuthAnn Wachal was concerned about fighting cancer. During an annual visit to her doctor, she was diagnosed with lung cancer and needed surgery to remove half of her right lung. After the surgery, Wachal continued her checkups with her oncologist every three months. “You go back to the doctor for your checkup, and you expect them to say, ‘Everything looks good — see you next year,’” she said. “But instead, they found a spot that had spread to my left shoulder.” After receiving the news, Wachal needed a more aggressive treatment plan, which included radiation and chemotherapy. Due to the frequency and duration of her treatments, she knew it wasn’t feasible to travel to Omaha or Lincoln, Nebraska. She later met with the team at Columbus Cancer Care, describing the experience as being “truly cared for by people who feel like family.” After starting her treatment, Wachal and her husband planned a bucketlist trip to Alaska. She worked with for cancer care Supportive cancer care To learn more about Columbus Community Hospital’s comprehensive cancer care services, visit columbushosp.org. her oncology team to design a treatment schedule that allowed her to go on the vacation of a lifetime. “They knew how important this trip was to me, and I’m forever thankful for everyone who helped make it possible,” she said. Rebuilding her life Upon returning from her trip, Wachal knew it was time to start rebuilding her life from scratch. While her recovery journey was long, Wachal credits her strength to her support system of family, friends and care providers. Unable to bounce back to “normal life” as quickly as she had after her initial surgery, Wachal recalls the initial struggle with dehydration she experienced while undergoing treatment. Columbus Community Hospital, Wellness Center and YMCA help a cancer fighter become a survivor ‘ALL IN’ Going
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODQ1MTY=