S.O.C.’s Patient Profile: Donna Volman

Donna Volman, a resident of North Wildwood, first became familiar with Survivors of Cancer when her mother was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and received financial aid from the organization. Unfortunately, Donna’s mother eventually passed away at the hand of her cancer. Just eight months after her mother’s untimely death, Donna received a threatening diagnosis of her own – doctors had found that she had both throat and lung cancer. The diagnosis came in February of 2011.
Just four months later, Donna had a chance run-in with S.O.C.’s Publicity Director Joann Wieckowski. “I just happened to see Joann in Wawa and she asked how I had been doing since my mother passed away. I told her that I had actually received a cancer diagnosis since that time and was being treated,” explained Volman.
Wieckowski immediately took down all of Donna’s contact information and just days later, Joann found herself inundated with an outpouring of support. “I received several phone calls and cards from members of the S.O.C.’s organization expressing their concern and offering their assistance,” stated Donna. “They are such caring people. To this day, the members are always asking how I am doing with my treatment and what they can possibly do for me.”
Donna was treated at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. “It all started with a sore throat,” she explained, but life as she knew it changed completely. Donna’s cancer required three consecutive, major surgeries. In October 2011, Donna underwent throat surgery. Just one month later, surgeons removed all lymph nodes in her neck. Finally, in December 2011, Donna had a lower middle partial lobectomy on her right lung. “I hadn’t healed from the first when I got the second and hadn’t healed from the second when I got the third.”
She had a two month span to recover and then began chemotherapy in February 2012. “I was out of work for seven months,” explained Donna. “It’s an extremely trying time, so when you have someone call you or just send you a card to let you know they’re thinking of you, it makes such a difference. Every time I heard from S.O.C.’s it was always to say, ‘Anything we can do, please just let us know’.”
Climbing medical expenses became a major issue Donna faced with seven months of missed pay checks. “I was using up more and more of my savings,” she said. Thankfully, Survivors of Cancer had sent her a check immediately after they were informed of her throat cancer. “They checked in with me again and I let them know I also had lung cancer. Another check arrived quickly.”
Donna struggled to find local support resources that she felt related to her issues as a throat cancer patient and remains eternally grateful to S.O.C.’s for their assistance. “It’s beyond financial help. This organization offers emotional and spiritual support. They try to do what they possibly can for you. And now, I do whatever I possibly can for them,” she stated.
She has also since found a support network through Jefferson’s Kimmel Center. “It’s like a buddy list of patients undergoing similar treatment,” she explained. They can share their experiences with one another.
“What I really want to stress about S.O.C.’ s is that they are open to helping patients with all kinds of cancer. They were always involved from the beginning of my diagnosis to today.”
Today, Donna is awaiting a CAT scan that will take place in December in order to detect whether she has any cancerous spots that remain on her lungs. Our thoughts and prayers are with her as she wishes for news of remission.
“A cancer diagnosis really takes a toll on your body. It affects you for the rest of your life. But you just have to be strong enough to get back to the life you were leading before,” stated Donna resolutely. “Negative attitudes don’t work.”