Pat Howard, Watsonville, CA

Married for 50+ years, my husband Jim and I live in a house on six and a half acres in California. I really enjoy working in the garden. I don't grow any vegetables because there are too many gophers, but I love growing flowers and I take pride in my roses.

My trouble started with some knee pain around Christmas time 2001. I went shopping with my daughter and had difficulty walking around. My knee kept going out and I was constantly tired. When I got to the doctor, I found out I was badly anemic. They sent me in for more tests and diagnosed me with kidney cancer in my left kidney. This was a shock to me — I had a backache now and then, but I never had any blood in my urine.

In January 2002, I had surgery to remove a six-centimeter renal mass, renal vein and spleen. Six months later the cancer had metastasized to my lungs and liver. I received eight courses of IV Bolus IL-2 (PROLEUKIN) therapy led by Dr. David Minor at the California Pacific Medical Center. My three children would take turns coming up to visit me and my husband practically lived with me during the treatments — I don't think I'd have pushed myself very hard if it hadn't been for him. My doctors and my faith also helped to pull me through it.

The IL-2 therapy shrank all the tumors except four nodules in my lungs, which were surgically removed on June 2003. Two of them were clear and two had very minute signs of cancer. We all were thrilled — it was like it was worth all the suffering and discomfort I had. And to think there was a chance I almost didn't get the therapy due to my age of 62 at the time!

Jim and I love animals tremendously. We used to take care of horses that were neglected. It's a lot of work, but it was fun getting them back on their feet. We have a German Shepherd, a couple of old chickens that give us eggs and a cat that lives in the garage and catches all the mice. We even have a canary. Life is truly wonderful.

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