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Highlands Today

Surviving Cancer

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By JOE SEELIG

Highlands Today

Published: February 7, 2009

SEBRING - Cancer is a word, when uttered by a doctor, that strikes fear in the heart of anyone on the receiving end of the news. But breakthroughs in cancer research give more and more people hope.

That's the purpose of Relay for Life, to raise cancer awareness and money for cancer research.

Cancer survivor Patty Lloyd, 44, of Sebring, had her battles with the disease but didn't let it bring her down. For the last seven years, she's been giving back by participating in Relay for Life events.

"I started by helping out with the luminaries," said Lloyd on Thursday at her Sebring home. "It was just nice and they treat you like a queen if you're a survivor. It's nice to be pampered."

For the last three years she has participated as a model in a fashion show sponsored by the Heartland Association of Realtors. This year's show is named Celebration of Life 2009.

"We get to celebrate life with our cancer survivors," said Arianna Burke, executive director of the Heartland Association of Realtors. This is the first year it will be held at Four Points By Sheraton Chateau Elan.

Burke said she was impressed with Lloyd's attitude and outlook, especially considering Lloyd has undergone numerous cancer surgeries.

"You never see a frown on her face," said Burke. "She always has that twinkle in her eyes."

In the previous shows each of the models showed two outfits.

"This year we're modeling three," said Lloyd, who walks aided with a crutch. "There will be 22 models (male and female)."

In 1987 Lloyd was diagnosed with Synovial Cell Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer in her muscle cells and muscle tissues.

She was just 23 years old, working as a teacher's aide at New Prospect Private School. When she ran, her leg would go out on her and she had leg pain. She fell several times and developed a bruise, but unlike most bruises, this one wouldn't go away.

Doctors ordered CAT scans, more than one. She was misdiagnosed and told nothing was wrong. She was told she had a calcium deposit, but the spot the size of a marble turned into a small lump.

Lloyd took a two-week vacation and while away the lump grew. By the time she returned it was the size of a small orange, she said. It was cancer.

"At that time, cancer was a dirty word that was only whispered and most people acted as though I was contagious," said Lloyd.

The doctors performed a radical resection removing 70 percent of the muscle from her right leg above the knee.

Lloyd couldn't work and moved to Gainesville to be closer to where she was receiving her daily radiation treatments and bi-weekly chemotherapy.

She underwent 31 consecutive radiation treatments.

Over time, due to the amount of radiation she received, she suffered bone deterioration and in 1997 broke her femur (bone extending from hip to knee) in two places.

Doctors inserted a rod and grafted bone from her hip. That didn't work too well so in 1998 surgeons took a bone from her pelvis and added a rod. In 1999 they took her fibula (bone from her lower leg) and attached it to the femur.

She spent about four years at home recuperating.

"I pretty much had to entertain myself for four years," she said.

In 2005, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Surgeons removed fatty tissue, her appendix, lymph nodes as well as her ovaries and tubes.

"I tell people they gutted me like a fish," she said laughing.

She also underwent surgeries for skin cancers.

Although she wasn't a church-going person, she believes in God and said she's had some pretty strong arguments with Him. But she's kept her sense of humor.

"At the time when my leg broke I had custody of my 6-year-old nephew," said Lloyd. "Things weren't easy. I said, 'God, I need a break, I need a break,' and I got a break (just not the kind she expected). So be careful what you ask Him for."

Her nephew went to live with his grandparents.

And speaking of breaks, Lloyd said she was astounded by the generosity of people and help she received in Highlands County.

"The money that the people of Highlands County donated helped to keep me from being homeless," said Lloyd. "If it was not for their donations and my mother's hard work, I am not sure what I would have done. I was in debt of over $200,000 and I did not qualify for any government help."

Significant amounts of her debt were later forgiven, she said.

Giving back is important to her. That is one reason she has volunteered for the Salvation Army, Highlands County Ag-Venture, and is such a big supporter of Relay for Life.

"To give back - and maybe help someone who had helped me; and with the money that is raised for research I hope that no other person will have to go through what I went through," she said.

RELAY FOR LIFE FASHION SHOW

The Celebration of Life 2009 fashion show sponsored by the Heartland Association of Realtors will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 17, at Four Points By Sheraton Sebring, Chateau Elan, 150 Midway Drive, at the Sebring International Raceway.

Tickets are $30, and include door prizes, the fashion show, entertainment and lunch catered by Chateau Elan. A silent auction and raffle drawing will also be held to benefit cancer research. For information, call Burke at (863) 385-6014.

Highlands Today reporter Joe Seelig can be reached at (863) 386-5834 or jseelig@highlandstoday.com .

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