‘Stay Positive’: Debbie Mason’s Journey with a Daunting Diagnosis (article)

Good health is something that many might take for granted, right up until the doctor sees a funny spot on an x-ray or a questionable result on a test. Peachtree Corners resident Debbie Mason probably didn’t expect to hear the dreaded six-letter word (cancer) when she went in for a routine checkup last November.

After taking a CA125 blood test, some unusual results led to further inspection and the discovery of a polyp in the uterus. Determining the malignancy of this polyp involved a fair bit of supposedly routine, but nevertheless disconcerting, procedures including a dilation and curettage (D&C) and removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries that, due to age, were no longer needed. Then the news came that Debbie had a carcinosarcoma indicative of endometrial cancer.

“I can still remember exactly the words the doctor used. He said it was the worst kind of cancer a woman ever wants to be told she has. At that time, I couldn’t hardly catch my breath. I just figured I would get my affairs in order,” Debbie said.

Strong resolve for the journey

Those in this community who know Debbie know that she is somewhat of a cornerstone of this young city, as the dutiful wife supporting her husband Mike Mason in his role as mayor, as well as her vital role as Vice President organizing the annual Peachtree Corners Festival. So, of course, news of this magnitude would come as a shock, to say the least.

But in typical make-do-and-mend fashion, Debbie went back into surgery in the hopes of beating the odds. A different surgeon went in and removed her uterus. At that time, it was determined that the cancer was at Stage 1, because it had only progressed through the wall of the uterus up to 60%.

“I was grateful for it, but it would have been great if it had only been 50% because then they wouldn’t have recommended chemotherapy,” Debbie said.

The belief was that with chemotherapy and radiation, Debbie had a better chance at a good outcome. She started her first round of chemo in January and dealt with harrowing symptoms and scares, including hair loss, jaundice and liver failure.

Liver failure is a rare side effect of chemotherapy that affects less than 1% of those undergoing it, and Debbie was referred to a liver specialist who thought she might even require a transplant. Luckily it never came to that, but it meant that Debbie was not able to resume chemo.

Despite this setback, Debbie trudged on. After waiting about a month for her liver values to blessedly return to some version of normalcy, Debbie began her radiation therapy. She has undergone three rounds of radiation treatments with very few side effects and is now about six months into it. Her first CAT scan came back clean, showing no signs of recurrence.

Awareness leads to early detection

Debbie has been very open and honest about her journey, even sharing pictures online that illustrated the toll that her illness has taken. It is worthwhile to note that this upcoming September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and that Debbie’s awareness of her condition first became apparent because of the concern of a friend who had recently lost his mother to ovarian cancer.

It was a matter of dire importance to this friend’s mother that he compel the women in his life to get a CA125 blood test. This test is a common indicator for abnormalities related to ovarian cancer and similar cancers. So Debbie had requested the test be included in a standard physical and, as a result, doctors detected the disease much earlier than it probably would have been.

“Early detection is key. The reason why everything is so gloom and doom when you read about carcinosarcoma is women find it late,” Debbie said.

Thankful and positive

Debbie made special mention of her gratitude for the thoughts and prayers of the Peachtree Corners community, adding how nice it was to have a whole city praying for her and that “there can’t be too many prayers.”

Though no one can say for sure what lies ahead, Debbie remains cautiously optimistic. When asked what advice she would give to those given a cancer diagnosis, and their loved ones who want to support them, Debbie had some wise words of encouragement.

“My advice is stay positive. Don’t act like you’re dying. Eat healthy and exercise,” she said. “I have made it a point to take all toxic things out of my life, and that has helped tremendously.”