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Cancer does not slow Henson down
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November 8, 2011
Amber Brettel, Business Manager
Constant lack of energy and dehydration prompted ninth grade drama and yearbook teacher Tiena Henson to visit the hospital, not knowing that this would be the first of many visits.
On October 23, 2009, Hanna Henson received a phone call before the Bob Jones game from her dad, saying that her mom had cancer. The line went dead before she learned more, and soon after the trauma, Hanna’s older sister came and took her to the hospital.
“I remember being at the Bob Jones game during sophomore year when my dad called me. When I got to the hospital, my mom tried talking to me, but she fell asleep and didn’t remember half the things she said. She was just worried about me,” Hanna said.
Tiena has been fighting ovarian cancer since September 2009. She was first diagnosed after a CA 125 test. Her score was not high and she and her family were optimistic about it at first, as no one believed it was cancer. They all thought that the cist or tumor was benign and nothing to worry about. She soon learned otherwise.
At first, the verdict of ovarian cancer made Tiena and her family apprehensive, but she and her husband committed to pray with one another to help overcome the initial shock.
“I started six rounds of chemo, which ended in March 2010. I went back to the hospital in June and then had surgery in August. In January 2011 we discovered that the cancer was back again,” Tiena said.
Tiena qualified for clinical trials in Vanderbilt, which she began in April 2011. The tests are designed to see if there is something new that can help with the cancer. The process includes the patient undergoing several trials to see if things are improving, almost like a lab rat. It is not hazardous to their health; however, some of the side-effects were too severe for Tiena and she had to stop them for awhile. Once she was back in Huntsville, she began two rounds of normal chemo, which helped shrink the tumor. Tiena says that the treatments have been working well, and she can overcome her exhaustion by eating well and resting more; plus, lotion always helps with the dry skin.
Tiena’s doctors have told her that they plan to continue with the regiment they are presently on. She will have a CAT scan the week before Fall Break and will return to Vanderbilt the week of.
Tiena has also learned to adapt to certain changes, such as hair loss from the chemotherapy, wearing various colored scarves and describing it as “a new fashion statement” that everyone in her daily life seems to support.
“Hair is overrated. I save money on shampoo and conditioner, and I never have a bad hair day. Thank goodness for that, because sometimes my students make me want to tear my hair out,” Tiena said.
Throughout her experience, Tiena has kept her faith and has been greatly encouraged by family, friends, students and fellow staff members who do well to cover for her whenever she has to go in for chemo. She feels that it has brought her closer to God, and she is very grateful to friends and others whom have prayed for her throughout this event.
“My mom is my role model. She’s always been an encouragement to everyone around her. She’s funny, and she’s always been of great strength, comfort and faith. I love her to death and I think she’s gotten stronger through this experience,” Hanna said.
Tiena is still going strong, maintaining a positive and strong-willed attitude as she copes with her illness, and carries on daily activities as an educator as though nothing is out of the ordinary. She is also active in promoting cancer awareness through Lilies of the Valley, a group designed to attract attention to ovarian cancer.
“I did a commercial with them in 2010 and I also have a Relay for Life team which raises money to cure cancer through the American Red Cross. My team is named ‘Life is Sweet,’” Tiena said.
