Catherine Ellison

Catherine Ellison is considered a pioneer at M. D. Anderson, where she is among the first ovarian cancer patients to take part in a new clinical trial involving blood stem cell support. Hearing in January 1997 that she had ovarian cancer was "a terrible shock," but she was encouraged after being evaluated by M. D. Anderson specialists. Because she had not been treated previously, she was an ideal candidate for the new study.

 

First, she received three rounds of combination chemotherapy, then her peripheral blood stem cells were removed, prepared in the laboratory and stored frozen. The next phase included four cycles of high-dose chemotherapy with an infusion of her own stem cells after each cycle.

 

"There were some rough spots," Ellison says, "yet I had much of my treatment as an outpatient and could be at home." She and husband Cecil have four children, ages 17 to 24. She also is grateful for the M. D. Anderson team that persuaded her insurance company to cover the major costs of her treatment. "I believe I have an excellent chance for long-term survival," she says.