Cathy Hibschman

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting. If you have personal questions you may text me @ 330.503.2872 or email me at tricia@steeleimaging.com


February 6, 2017 Cathy was diagnosed with Lung Cancer with bone metastasis.  A fracture at the 4th rib and a tumor pressing against that rib.  
February 22, 2017 after having an MRI of the thoracic spine, the findings were two tumors.  One at the T4/T5 and one at the T9.  


Cathy started a chemotherapy regimen and 10 rounds of radiation per tumor site.  After 6 months of Chemotherapy and radiation regimen, the tumors had died and the cancer cells in her lungs.  However, she still had two spots on the fractured rib that hadn't died.  At this time Cathy started Immunotherapy regimen that her doctor believed would kill the last of the cancer on the rib and this would be her treatment for the rest of her life.  As she neared the end of the Immunotherapy, Cathy was experiencing increased pain in the left side/4th rib area.  A followup scan was ordered to see the results of the Immunotherapy. It was  discovered the Immunotherapy wasn't doing what it should and the tumor that was near her fractured rib had grown.  Cathy started a new Chemotherapy regimen and the radiation doctor ordered a scan of the 4th rib area.   The results came back that the tumor in that area had grown.  He prescribed 15 rounds of radiation.   The Chemotherapy  regimen was planned to run 6 months with a follow up scan after 3 moths.  


December 2017: Cathy & Phil had vacation plans with family and friends that would require Cathy to be off treatment for almost 4 weeks.  The doctor choose to order a scan (after two months), before the vacation.  The results from the scan came back with disappointing news.  The Chemotherapy wasn't working.  Dr. Ansari gave mom two choices.  He could make her comfortable for the next 2-5 months or she could fight.  Cathy & Phil went on a shorter Christmas vacation with family and new friends.  Phil & Cathy celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary on the Atlantic Ocean.  


January 4, 2018 - Cathy met with Dr. Hanna at IU Health and Precision Genomics in Indianapolis.


January 16, 2018 - Cathy is now on a new Chemotherapy regimen prescribed by Dr. Hanna at IU Heath 


January 26, 2018 - Cathy met the team at Precision Genomics.  Upon the evaluation with Dr. Schneider VP of Precision Genomics, he expressed his concern that Cathy had been in a wheelchair since January 11th.  Dr. Schneider believed that based on the timeline that she may have a tumor pressing against her spine.  He wanted to immediately admit her to the ER in Indianapolis to have an MRI.  Cathy wanted to continue with the plan for the day.  Cathy had blood drown and a biopsy as they will send that off to see if they their is a drug trial that will prolong her life. It will be 4-8 weeks before we hear something about a drug trial.