Editor’s note: Below is one of a series of stories about cancer survivors that will appear in the Maryville Daily Forum between now and the Nodaway County Relay For Life slated for Saturday, Sept. 13

Being diagnosed with cancer can be devastating. It is a completely different thing to be diagnosed a second time.

When Elda Jones was 22-years old, living and working in Colorado, she was excited about the life she had ahead of her.

Following a vacation in 1966 –– hitting the beaches and sunbathing her way through California and Arizona ––  Jones settled back into her work at the bank. It wasn’t long before she noticed something suspicious and painful on her leg.

Fortunately, Jones had contact with a registered nurse who examined people before they were hired to work at the bank.

“It was my own luck,” Jones said. “This nurse had worked for a plastic surgeon. She knew who to call and where to go.”

Jones saw a doctor within a week of discovering the problem on her leg and within a week and a half, she was in surgery where they removed the large affected area.

After photos were taken and biopsies done, Jones was diagnosed with melanoma –– known as the most serious type of skin cancer according to the National Cancer Institute.

She couldn’t believe it was true. She was devastated. Thankfully that same registered nurse was there for her again.

Jones’ doctor in Colorado referred her to a plastic surgeon at KU Medical Center, so she boxed up her possessions, stored them with friends, and flew home to Missouri. Her sister picked her up at the airport and the went straight to KU Medical Center to meet with Dr. Masters.
She was told the chance of her living to age 30 was slim to none.

For two months Jones received treatments every other day to destroy cancer cells that were threatening her life.

She turned 23-years old while she was receiving those treatments.

“I had to talk to my parents about where I was to be buried,” she said. “I had life insurance, but at age 22 and 23, making my final arrangements was one of the most traumatic things I’ve ever experienced. I was lost. I didn’t know where to start.”
Jones said she wasn’t sure what kind of treatments she was having or how much chemo medication she was receiving.

“I believe the treatments were clinical trials,” she said. “I hope maybe some of the things they learned on me saved the lives of some other people. Whatever the treatments were, they worked. I got letters from people at KU Medical Center for several years. They were wondering if I was still alive –– if I was ambulatory.”

Jones was soon able to return to Colorado and to work. Three people who worked at the same bank were diagnosed with cancer and went on medical leave around the same time as Jones. Jones was the lone survivor of the three.

“I carried a lot of guilt at that time,” she said. “I wondered why me? Why was I spared? What was I supposed to do to make up for being spared? I didn’t know if I would live myself at the time.”
Jones said the atmosphere around the cancer issue in the 1960s was much different than it is today. She felt ashamed of her cancer –– she wore long dresses and pants so people wouldn’t see the scars on her legs.

“People were afraid of cancer back then,” she said. “They thought it was catchy. I didn’t talk to anyone about my cancer for many years. I would never have attended a support group in those days.”

As the years went by, Jones returned to Missouri and became a medical social worker. She said she was drawn to Hospice care and has now worked for SSM Hospice for more than 12 years helping terminal patients.

Jones said she enjoys working with SSM Hospice patients.

“I don’t expect to work miracles for the patients I see,” she said. “I know I can’t fix it all on my own. Knowing that keeps me from burning out. I don’t have any lofty ideas of curing people. I just do the little things that make them happy and comfortable.”

In 2002, Jones was again diagnosed with cancer –– this time in the breast.

“It was a different feeling when it came back,” she said. “At first I felt glad it was me and not someone else this time –– it kind of made up for the guilt of not dying the first time.”

Jones said there was a lot of information available about breast cancer and she wanted to know everything right away.

“I needed to know my options before making the big decisions ahead of me,” she said. “I was alone. I pushed for answers.”

Jones opted to have a double mastectomy and no chemo or radiation treatments.
“I knew I would have to go to St. Joseph everyday for treatments,” she said. “I was working and didn’t feel like I would have the energy to continue my job and take the treatments at the same time.”

Jones often thinks about how the experiences she had with cancer differed  –– from her early years to the more recent.

“It was much easier the second time around –– like a cake walk compared to the first time,” she said. “The way things happened the first time saved my life –– I was told where to go and I did what I was told fast. The second time, a mammogram discovered the cancer. Without the mammogram it wouldn’t have been found –– there were no lumps.”

Jones’ advice to everyone is to be aware of their bodies –– early detection is important. If something is not right, see a doctor and if the doctor blows it off, go to another doctor.

“People need to check spots, moles and blemishes.” she said. “If something doesn’t heal, get it checked. Even bug bites –– it doesn’t have to be a mole –– any irritation on your skin needs to be checked out.”

Jones is now a facilitator for the Nodaway County Cancer Support Group, which is a meets at 6 p.m., on the third Tuesday of each month at the Laura Street Baptist Church. The meeting is free and open to anyone interested in attending.

“The support group helps people through all aspects of cancer, whether it’s financial, insurance questions or whatever,” Jones said. “Someone is there who  has had the same snags as others are experiencing. They can lend moral support –– someone to talk to. It’s more comforting to talk to someone about your problems when they have experienced the same thing.”

Jones said she doesn’t have all the information people might need –– she hasn’t experienced everything cancer can dish out. As facilitator of the support group, Jones helps to get people to the right resources.

“We can help to get people rides to their treatments,” she said. “We can simply be there for others. Family members are always invited to come to the support group meetings as well. Sometimes they continue to attend after the patient dies. They feel a part of the group.

For more information about the Cancer Support Group, call Jones at (660) 582-8874 or her cell phone at (816) 807-7346 or Ken Thom at (660) 562-2531.