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Positive attitude and skilled cancer care help civil
engineer overcome acute leukemia
Edward Brinton thought he was suffering a bout of the flu
in November of 1986 during Thanksgiving weekend.
One week later, however, he was checked into University
of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, hooked up to a Hickman® line
(an intravenous tube surgically inserted into the chest
wall), and prepped for chemotherapy at what is today the
John and Mary Pappajohn Clinical Cancer Center.
What Brinton had mistaken for the flu, was actually acute
leukemia.
Acute leukemia progresses quickly and is characterized by
its effect on white blood cells formed in the blood and bone
marrow.
Normally, white blood cells will mature and take on their
role in fighting infection. However, in the case of acute
leukemia, these white blood cells are unable to mature,
resulting in billions of immature white blood cells with no
useful function. This leaves the body vulnerable to
life-threatening infections.
Thus, the symptoms of acute leukemia can easily be
mistaken for other nagging flu- or cold-like symptoms,
including fever, weakness, fatigue, and aching bones and
joints. Tests of the blood and bone marrow, however, quickly
identified Brinton's nondescript symptoms caused by acute
myelogenous leukemia.
"I had many chemotherapy treatments at UI Hospitals and
Clinics," Brinton said. "I believe I was in the hospital for
about 180 days, on and off during a nine month period after
my cancer was first discovered."
After a year of intermittent chemotherapy treatments,
Brinton was in remission and chemotherapy was stopped.
Unfortunately, at his annual checkup in 1992, five years
into remission, it was discovered that Brinton had recurrent
leukemia. This time there were no visible symptoms.
For the next two years, Brinton experienced a roller
coaster of highs and lows in his cancer treatment. After
being treated to gain another remission, Brinton was told
that he needed a bone marrow transplant.
Thankfully, his sister Barbara was a match and his
transplant went relatively smoothly. Then, a year later in
1994, Brinton's kidneys failed as a result of the cancer
treatments and he required dialysis for six months.
Fortunately, Barbara stepped up once again and donated one
of her kidneys, and he was given another chance.
As a result of numerous medications required for the
treatment of his leukemia and for his bone marrow
transplant, Brinton developed cataracts in both eyes. The
surgery to remove the cataracts, performed by UI Health Care
ophthalmologist Drew Dillman, M.D., went quite smoothly and
has made a significant improvement in Brinton's vision.
Through all the surgeries and cancer treatments, Brinton
had many physicians and medical staff caring for him. But
his original supervising physician, Choon-Kee Lee, M.D., was
always there.
Roger Gingrich, M.D., Ph.D., associate director for
clinical services at Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center,
said Brinton's courage through the many ups and downs he
experienced in cancer treatment was amazing.
"Edward Brinton, his wife, and his family exemplify the
importance of having a positive attitude when one faces a
difficult medical situation," Gingrich said. "Nothing seemed
to get him down."
Brinton said his experiences have made him focused more
intently on what he deems important in life such as charity
projects and spending time with friends and family. "I am
less easily disturbed by serious situations and am
frequently able to stay focused and provide useful help,"
Brinton said of his life after acute leukemia.
After being forced to leave his job as Iowa City water
superintendent in 1994 because of his cancer-related
exhaustion, Brinton, 60, is now working full--time as a
civil engineer in design and project management.
For more information about Holden
Comprehensive Cancer Center, call the Cancer Information
Service at 800-237-1225. Physician calls for consultation or
referral should be directed to UI
consult.
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