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Patient Profile: Keep Going, Be Strong When Faced with Cancer
Elsie Talavera certainly didn’t go looking for cancer; it found her.
She told her husband of 26 years, Benito Cortes, that she wasn’t feeling well. She had noticed that her stools were black, but didn’t realize the severity of her illness until she lost consciousness several times. By the time she reached Atlanta Medical Center, Elsie was bleeding and her blood pressure was very low.
Many tests followed and Elsie was diagnosed with gastric cancer. This resulted in major surgery that removed half of her stomach. One month later, Elsie underwent radiation and chemotherapy simultaneously. More radiation treatments without chemo followed and another round of chemotherapy was scheduled to begin in January.
The Cancer Pavilion at Atlanta Medical Center has been providing the majority of her care. “Mrs. Talavera has been fortunate that her cancer was found early and was localized,” says Adriene Kinnaird, director of Cancer Services for the new center. “She has great physicians and we’re prepared to meet her every need at our new center.” Elsie speaks highly of her medical oncologist Dr. Torey Clark and radiation oncologist Dr. Suzanne Smith. “Have hope; trust God and the doctors. They are smart—they know.”
Elsie, who moved to Georgia from Nicaragua 17 years ago to find better opportunities, has no insurance coverage even though she works two jobs daily. Many people who work hard every day experience this disparity. The hospital is helping Elsie apply for Cancer State Aid.
Meanwhile, Elsie credits her faith, physicians, and family with giving her the strength to keep going. “Sometimes it’s difficult and I am sad, but I have to make it. I pray and I cry. I had a hard time with treatment because I was so tired and desperate. But, I trust in God. I have so many people in church praying for me. My family is my support—everyone around me gives me support.”
For others with a cancer diagnosis,
she says, “You need to
keep going and be strong. Eat—even when you
don’t want to.” Her other words of wisdom are, “You
must check yourself. If you’re not feeling good, get medical
care. Don’t be afraid.”
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