In 44 years of marriage, Mary and Jim Kenneth have stood shoulder to shoulder through a lot, including Mary's battle with cancer
Mary Kenneth sits in her home in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, surrounded by familiarity and comfort. Photos of her three children and their families hang on the walls; the smell of freshly baked homemade blueberry muffins fills the air; and she is reassured that her husband of 44 years, Jim, is still by her side.
The Kenns' married life is so peaceful and harmonious that even the way they tell their stories is remarkably consistent, even in the way they phrase their stories about Mary's three cancer battles. When Jim talks about his wife's cancer treatment, he uses the word "we" and adds, "I was there for the whole thing."
When Mary Kenneth was diagnosed with a rare form of uterine cancer in the spring of 2008 and was scheduled to participate in a clinical trial, she chose the Dana-Farber-Bregan Cancer Centre. In fact, her cancer history goes back to 1997, the year she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had one breast removed; a year later, other cancers were found in the other breast.
"The second breast cancer took her through the full range of cancer treatments including mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy," recalls Kenn, who was treated at a local hospital at the time.Jim adds, "Whenever something happened, we would say, 'Things will always work out.'"
Mary also had to take several medications to prevent the cancer from coming back, but she was healthy. However, about 10 years later, she noticed a slight bleeding from her vagina. Her local gynaecologist advised her to have her uterus removed and post-operative laboratory reports proved the presence of carcinosarcoma, a rare form of cancer that grows on the muscles and lining of the uterus.
A second operation fully established the cancer grade and although the biopsy showed that the cancer had not spread outside the uterus, Kenn still chose to take part in a clinical trial to find a good chance of preventing the cancer from returning for herself. "I think it's like an insurance policy for my cancer," she explains, "and it also helps doctors find reasonable treatments for other women."
According to Dana-Farber oncologist Dr Susana Campos, the trial is testing the effectiveness of two chemotherapy drugs, oxaliplatin and gemcitabine, in combination with radiotherapy, an approach that has been used to treat other aggressive tumours. "We shared with the Kenn's all the information we knew and didn't know about this rare uterine cancer," Campos explained, "For example, we did know that the risk of this cancer spreading to the abdomen was very high. But because this cancer is so uncommon, we really don't have a standard treatment option, so it makes sense to take part in a clinical trial."
Kenn, 65, completed her treatment in December 2008 and now goes to the hospital regularly for follow-up checks. She and her husband strongly praise the Dana-Farber-Brigham Cancer Centre, including dedicated registered nurse Christin Whalen. "I was nervous when we first arrived in Boston, but Christin did everything for us to make me feel relaxed," Kenn recalls. "She hugged us warmly when we arrived at the hospital and often visited me at home during treatment."
The Kenn's now have five children and grandchildren, affectionately called 'Mima' and 'Bampa' by their children. They live with their eldest daughter, Alicia, and 22-year-old granddaughter, Amanda, while their other two children and their families also live nearby. Amanda, who is studying nursing at university, says: "I love Mima and Bampa more than I love myself."
Kenn has regained her health so she can continue to do what she loves to do: embroider on blankets and other gifts. She bought a computerised embroidery machine and later took an embroidery tuition course. As usual, her husband Jim is still by her side.
