Alida Hernandez: A Cancer Victim, RIP

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month is less than 30 days away (September), but looking through old files this week, I came across this column published Aug. 18, 2009, and decided to run it again in this week’s issue.

Why? Because everywhere I look, almost, I run into someone who is either battling the Big C or telling me that they beat the disease based on their last visit to the oncologist. If you research the question — why is cancer so common nowadays — you’ll find answers such as this: “Eating lots of processed foods, not getting enough exercise, carrying excess weight, and drinking too much alcohol are all risk factors for cancer, and all of those issues are widespread in modern life.” (Source: Mayo Clinic.)

No joke. Pass me a beer and a frozen taco nuked in the microwave and let me ponder this issue as I do some more research.

The odds of never getting cancer aren’t great, that’s for sure.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the latest surveys show that men have about a 40-percent chance of getting some form of cancer in their lifetimes.

Females have it just a touch better: A probability of 39 percent that a woman living in the U.S. will develop some form of cancer in their lifetimes. (Source: Statista.com.)

The following column is about an old friend of mine, Alida Hernandez, who was a force to be reckoned with back in the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s.

After this column was published in 2009, she would live for approximately another 17 months. Also, haven’t checked, but I’m guessing that the ability by physicians to diagnose ovarian cancer have improved over the past 15 years.

The Diagnosis

Alida Hernandez won’t mention the name of the primary care doc who first broke the dreaded cancer news to her, but she’s never going back to see him.

“He walked in, brusque like, and said to me, ‘You have a malignant cancer. You need to go home and get your affairs in order. Get everything in order.’ Just like that. Like I was already a walking dead woman. When I sat there blown away, shaking and crying, I asked him if I could at least sit there for a moment, and collect myself. I guess then he realized how cold he had sounded, so he came over and put his arm around me.”

Now, Alida’s in the fight of her life. Her opponent — Stage 3 ovarian cancer. In terms of a serious diagnosis, it’s right up there near the top of the list.

The people who know her well as a regular fixture around McAllen politics and civic life for at least the past 30 years aren’t going to count her out any time soon. They call her a tough old broad, and they say it with all affection.

“Let me put it this way,” said one former McAllen city commissioner, “if you’re in a battle, any battle, you don’t want Alida on the opposing side. You either love her or you don’t, but there’s no in between. Fortunately for me, I count her as a dear friend.”

During her ordeal, which now includes an eight-hour dose of chemo every three to four weeks, she’s had time though to reflect on what friendship really means.

“My father always told me you will know who your friends are, and you can count them on one hand — they’re the only ones who come and visit you when you’re sick or when you’re in jail.”

Since Alida’s health problems have spread throughout McAllen — she’s chairwoman for the city’s revitalization arm “Heart of the City” — she said she’s been amazed at the outpouring of support for what she’s going through.

“A lot of cards,” she said. “You think you’re not all that well liked. And then the mailman shows up.”

Her family is also a big help. Four sisters, which include District Court Judge Aida Salinas Flores, four daughters, a loving husband.

“They’re like ticks on a dog,” she said, obviously pleased. “They won’t leave me alone.”

On the medical front, Alida admits ovarian cancer is a tough nut to crack. Currently, there’s no real test to detect it. One blood test for ovarian cancer, CA-125 is used sometimes. But most physicians don’t like it, because it registers too many false positives.

But when abdominal symptoms develop, as they did in Alida’s case, it’s perhaps incumbent on some patients to ask their doctor to order one.

“In my case, if I remember right, the normal value is less than 35, and mine was up around 825.”

Overall, though, she’s got some great things to say about some local physicians – Gastroenterologist Carlos Cardenas and Gynecologist Efrain Vela, and there’s the surgeon out of Houston, for whom she’s got a ton of respect.

“Ovarian cancer is tough because of the detection aspect,” Alida said. “I had my regular pap smear and mammogram every year. I did the colonoscopy procedure, and then I end up with something that’s so difficult to detect.”

Making the Story Public

Alida said she’s making her story public so that people understand that if they run into one doctor that seems depressing, “Don’t give up hope. Cancer’s terrible news for anyone. But it’s important to stay upbeat, surround yourself with those you love, and seek out the best doctors you can find. No matter where you have to go to find them.”

Typically, signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer are nonspecific and mimic those of many other more common conditions, including digestive and bladder disorders, according to the Mayo Clinic. A woman with ovarian cancer may be diagnosed with another condition before finally learning she has cancer. Common misdiagnoses include irritable bowel syndrome, stress and depression.

According to the Mayo clinic, recent studies have shown that women with ovarian cancer are more likely than are other women to consistently experience the following symptoms:

• Abdominal pressure, fullness, swelling or bloating

• Urinary urgency

• Pelvic discomfort or pain

Additional signs and symptoms that women with ovarian cancer may experience include:

• Persistent indigestion, gas or nausea

• Unexplained changes in bowel habits, such as constipation

• Changes in bladder habits, including a frequent need to urinate

• Loss of appetite or quickly feeling full

• Increased abdominal girth or clothes fitting tighter around your waist

• Pain during intercourse (dyspareunia)

• A persistent lack of energy

• Low back pain

• Changes in menstruation

Most serious illnesses include multiple symptoms, so don’t freak out if you’re reading this now and say to yourself — I’ve been having that.

If you don’t feel well, Alida says, don’t put off asking your doctor to check you over. And make sure you have a compassionate physician, she said, “because in times of crisis, that’s what you need most – compassion.”

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Final Note: We still miss you, Alida. RIP.