By Brandie Kessler
bkessler@pottsmerc.com
POTTSTOWN — Lesley Duall says there’s an upside to getting cancer.
“You enjoy getting old,” the 16 year ovarian cancer survivor said during a recent interview. “I want to look old and decrepit,” she continued with laughter.
It was back in 1992 that her life changed dramatically. The change started even before she was diagnosed.
Her mother was living in England at the time, sick with a brain tumor. Duall said her mother became increasingly sick over a three to four month span of time and eventually died. When Duall returned home, she realized she’d missed her annual mammogram and checkup.
At first she didn’t even want to go. Having been through the ordeal with her mother, it didn’t initially seem like something she should have to worry about. She’d go next year.
Then she thought of a friend.
“I’d lost a friend to breast cancer and thought I should probably go,” Duall said.
So she made the appointment that would save her life.
After the checkup, Duall expected to not be returning to the doctor for another year. Instead the doctor called and informed her that there was a lump. It was ovarian cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, ovarian cancer ranks fifth in the cancer deaths among women, accounting for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. Ovarian cancer will also claim the lives of an estimated 15,520 women in the United States this year.
Duall was devastated to learn that she had cancer, especially after losing her mother so soon before her diagnosis.
“In a two week time frame I went from thinking, oh well, I have to live life without my mom ... but certainly not thinking now I have to fight for my life too,” she said.
All the while, however, Duall didn’t give up hope.
She realized how lucky she was to change her mind and go for her annual checkup when she did. Had she not gone, she wouldn’t have any chance.
“Had I of gone a year later, I wouldn’t be here telling my story,” she said. “I owe my life to my oncologist and my gynecologist,” Duall said.
Duall underwent a “heavy dose of chemotherapy” after having a biopsy done to confirm that she had cancer. She is now cancer-free.
Although her body is free of cancer, her mind is constantly reeling with thoughts of how she can beat the disease by fundraising and being involved in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Pottstown.
Duall is a member of the 2008 Relay Chairperson, Kathy Brennan’s team, Kathy’s Crew. Her dog, Zver, is a member of the Miracle Tails canine Relay for Life team. Duall takes pride in wearing her Relay for Life pins and the color purple.
She said people who are diagnosed with cancer don’t often feel they “have a reason to hope. But there is hope. Most of that reason comes from the money we raise” through Relay for Life.
Duall said getting the diagnosis was a very low moment for her, for everything that was happening in her life. But, she added that she doesn’t want others out there who face a cancer diagnosis to be afraid.
“You can beat it,” Duall said. She advised women who feel that something isn’t right to go to the doctor, and if they’re not satisfied with what their doctor tells them to get a second opinion.
She said she feels empowered knowing that every step she takes with the Relay for Life is helping contribute to the eradication of cancer.
“I can now affect a change and make a difference for people being diagnosed now,” Duall said.