This is an update to my original story. Judy has been undergoing chemotherapy treatments for several months with limited results. She is now seeking other treatment protocols in AZ which are not covered by her insurance. Your contributions are helping her afford this effort. Thanks to everyone who has been so generous. Please keep Judy in your prayers My good friend Judy Blehm, who has cut my hair since the mid-80s, has learned that she has pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Judy has always been someone who took great care of herself by staying active, eating healthy and surrounding herself with a great group of friends. Below is a snippet of a letter Judy sent to her closest friends recently explaining her situation that I thought I would share with everyone. Unfortunately as you will see in her story, she received some ineffective medical care that perhaps could have prevented her cancer from reaching this stage had it been properly diagnosed two years ago when her symptoms started. Being a hair stylist Judy has already been severely impacted financially this year by the COVID pandemic, being forced to close her business for several months. Now with her chemo treatments she is once again unable to work, adding more stress to her financial situation. Any assistance any of your could provide would be greatly appreciated.


 In late 2018 I developed a cough which worsened over time. After it became obvious that it was chronic, I consulted my primary care doctor at Kaiser. Throughout 2018 and 19, I was referred to allergists, ENT’s, and others. They all came up with the same diagnoses: either post-nasal drip due to allergies (which, as I explained to them, I’ve never had which was confirmed on two
allergy panels), or GERD – even though I advised them that I couldn’t even recall ever even having had a bout of heartburn.

 The problem persisted. I changed primary care docs twice, and in August 2019 I had a chest Xray which showed no issues. The cough continued to worsen even though I tried all the medications that were prescribed for me.

 Fast forward to COVID times: My health began to decline about the same time as the outbreak: I began to experience chronic flu-like symptoms which I was able to keep in abeyance by taking Advil constantly. Unfortunately, since this coincided with the onset of COVID, I was unable to see any doctors in person, and during my phone visits my primary care doctor and his substitutes at Kaiser apparently thought I sounded healthy enough that they were not inclined
to consider that there might be underlying issues, despite the chronic cough for 18 months and the (by now) chronic flu-like symptoms.

 It was apparent that I had to be more forceful with the doctors to get them to listen to me since I couldn’t see them in person, so while talking to one of the docs standing in for my primary doc, I told him there was something seriously wrong: I shouldn’t have to take ibuprofen all day, every day in order to function. He said (and I quote) “Look, various doctors and specialists have examined you and reviewed your case; it’s not like you have a life threatening disease like
cancer. A lot of people take ibuprofen every day and if that makes you feel better you should continue taking them.”

 As soon as I could see a doc in person again (in mid-June of this year) I made an appointment with the first one available. Despite my protestations, she prescribed me another allergy medicine and sinus cleansing routine, promising a quick recovery. Of course it did nothing and with the flu symptoms worsening, two weeks later, I drove myself to urgent care and told the doctor I wasn’t going to go home until they found out what was wrong with me. She started with an X-ray and found out what was wrong: three masses and what turned out later to be
more than 2 liters of fluid in my lungs. I was referred to a pulmonologist who drained the fluid and sent it to the lab; their report came back stating that I had adenocarcinoma.

 Due to the amount of cancer in my lungs, I was diagnosed with stage 4 adenocarcinoma of the lung, metastasized to various parts of my body with uptake in several bones and small amounts in the liver and a small lesion at the tail of the pancreas.

 After a few biopsies and second and third opinions (City of Hope and Nagourney Cancer Institute), that was revised to pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

 I’ve lately had a hospital stay (in case you’re wondering where I’ve been); apparently one of the traits of pancreatic cancer is pulmonary embolisms (blood clots), so I’m now on medication for those.