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Airman overcomes cancer, continues to serve (and has a perfect PT score): Part 2

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Justin Brockhoff and Master Sgt. Mike Sanders
  • 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Editor's Note: This is the second part of a three-part series about an Airman's battle with cancer and how his commitment to faith, family and service helped him return to duty. To read part one, click the link under the story photo section.

Fighting for life ... literally

Sergeant Sanders flew to the St. Louis-area Sept. 14, 2007, four days after his cancer diagnosis. The ear, nose, and throat, or ENT, doctor would not allow him to drive from his previous duty station in Portland, Ore., because the tumor in his neck had started bleeding.

Sergeant Sanders' new duty location, the 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., received a late notification that the Sanders family was coming in ahead of their initial PCS date and that cancer treatment was driving the move.

Senior Master Sgt. Larry Williams, then-618th TACC Current Operations Directorate superintendent, rose to the occasion to meet the family at the airport, and had taken care of the family's transportation and billeting arrangements to make their transition smoother. That night, the bleeding got worse and Sergeant Sanders was checked into Barnes-Jewish Hospital on the following day.

The emergency room personnel at Barnes-Jewish took care of him immediately and the on-call ENTs were amazed that he was even there. New tests were completed and examined and he was diagnosed and categorized as having stage IV cancer - the highest stage possible according to the American Cancer Society's guide on Squamous Cell cancer.

Sergeant Sanders then met his new lead ENT, Dr. Bruce Haughey. After discussions with the family, surgery was scheduled to clear out the tumor and any other spreading cancer. It was a risk because there was no telling of how much growth was on the tongue or in the neck area.

The surgery went well and the tumor was removed. It was the size of a racquetball. Sergeant Sanders lost some of his epiglottis, part of the right pharyngeal wall, and a neck muscle along with over 40 lymph nodes. Eating was impossible right away. It was done through a feeding tube direct to his stomach.

"The cliché, 'you never know what you've got until it's gone,' is so true," said Sergeant Sanders. "Being able to taste food is one of those things."

An entry from Sergeant Sanders' online treatment journal captures how treatment began:

"I thought running a marathon was hard, but I have to say this is the hardest thing that I have ever gone through in my life. I'm in constant pain as I don't like taking pain meds, but yes, I am taking them as I really have no choice or I wouldn't even be able to type this ... Oh, I forgot to tell you ... if you do crunches or work your abs and the doc decides to puncture you with a feeding tube to the stomach, it will be phenomenal ... it has taken me to 10 on the pain level threshold."

Now that the surgery was finished, Sergeant Sanders need to start treatments for the carcinoma, which began at the end of November 2007.

"It was tough to make the decision to go with conventional treatments, as we knew chemo and radiation can kill you just as well," said Sanders. "We prayed about the decision often and eventually all doors were shut and we were to go this route."

Orders

Following the surgery, Sergeant Sanders, Laurie and Jenna met with Maj. Gen. Ronald Ladnier, then-618th TACC commander.  At the time, he issued Sergeant Sanders his orders ... "your mission, Mike, is to get well!"

In fact, recovery became Sergeant Sander's full-time job, and he was placed on medical leave from the Air Force.

Sergeant Sander's wife, Laurie, was in the room and also heard those orders and she made sure her husband adhered to them. Her job as a caregiver was just as taxing and she stayed focused and committed.

"When two people say their vows, I don't think that they really know the meaning of everything they are saying ... but I assure you, my lovely bride really understands," said Sergeant Sanders. "The best part is that she has upheld her promise to love and care for me know matter what happens ... I am truly a blessed man!"

Recovery

Recovery for Sergeant Sanders began after his last radiation treatment in January 2008. This meant months of tests, scans and physical therapy.

Sergeant Sanders attended rehabilitation therapy for a lot of things the average person takes for granted. He had to learn to swallow again and more than a month after the surgery, he was able to eat mashed potatoes for the first time.

"Don't ever take eating for granted," he said.  "It is a true gift from God to be able to eat and I am so thankful as there are so many that can't all over the world."

The doctors were concerned with getting Sergeant Sanders up and going again. It was a struggle as he was learning to eat again without a stomach tube. A lot of smoothies and soft foods were the choices and trying to eat 1,200 to 1,500 calories per day became the challenge.

Because of the treatment, the already lean Sergeant Sanders dropped from 150 pounds to 108 pounds, which was extremely taxing on his body. However, Laurie managed to make sure he got what he needed. Progress was slow and emotions were charged, but his new diet has him holding steady now at 125 pounds.

Great and terrible news

On April 1, 2008, Sergeant Sanders had a CT scan to establish the baseline from that point in time. That scan showed no cancer had been traced and the lymph areas looked good as well ... bottom line: no cancer!

Even though Sergeant Sanders was receiving good news in his battle against cancer, it wasn't going so well with his father who was losing his battle to colon cancer. In the midst of recovery and treatment, Sergeant Sanders and his family knew it was time for a visit home. Sergeant Sanders received permission from his doctors to travel to North Carolina and they spent his Dad's final days with him.

"The hardest part was speaking about my Dad at his funeral because all I could remember was how strong he was and how he always encouraged me to fight," he said when recalling his father's passing. "But I do have a great deal of comfort knowing my Dad is healed now and doing well in heaven."

Editor's Note: Part three of the series about Master Sgt. Sanders will appear on this Web site the week of May 18 and will detail his return to duty and life as a cancer survivor.