By Marilyn Miller
Most people don’t know that Jackie Lockett has a rare benign noncancerous tumor in her right shoulder. The Utilities-billing manager for the City of Minden hides it with a smile.
But she’s willing to talk about it if it can lead even one person toward, an earlier diagnosis.
“This is one of the hardest things I’ve ever experienced in my life,” Jackie said, of the aggressive tumor which she first noticed in 2021. “The treatments are just like cancer treatments.” She then shows a series of pictures on her phone, talking about how damaging the drug was to her body.
Her first diagnosis was “frozen shoulder,” because “I wasn’t able to move my arm…couldn’t lift it.” Doctors “manipulated it…cleaned it up.” Then, about a week after physical therapy, her movement improved. However, after spending a week in Florida, she realized she couldn’t lift it again. “I told myself that a week of just no treatment or therapy couldn’t do this. But the doctor said to continue the anti-inflammatories and the PT.” Nothing. She continued to beg for an MRI.
“Hey, it feels like there’s something in there,” she told the doctor next. Well, he gave her a shot and they waited six more weeks. “This is probably a total of 12 weeks now, and I go back and it’s still not better. So, Oct. 21 they scheduled my first MRI.”
“I get my MRI…they call me back and tell me I have to get another MRI, with contrast. On Nov. 9 they call me and tell me it’s a tumor. I cry like a big baby…because when you think tumor, you think cancer immediately. So, then I have to go to Baton Rouge to an orthopedic oncologist there and he does an MRI and a biopsy. So, I’m waiting, it’s around Thanksgiving, and he finally tells me it’s Desmoid Fibromatosis.”
“What’s that?” she asked. Her question was met with months of doctors answering “I don’t treat that” until she finally found one at M.D. Anderson in Houston. On Feb. 14, yep, Valentine’s Day, she finally sees a doctor who puts her on a chemotherapy pill. Three months in…It burned her hands and feet…it burned her scalp, causing her to lose hair. “And I’m trying to go to work every day.”
“At that time, Terry Gardner was our mayor. He was so sympathetic about what I was going through.”
“But I’m just trying to make it. To live my life. My head was on fire, itching.” Another series of pictures, June, July, August…
”I stopped taking that medicine!”
And on to the next treatment…cryoablation therapy. Four of them since February of 2023…third degree burns on her arms, not waking up after one particular treatment, wound care, lack of sleep. Her latest treatment was Sept. 11, 2024. Now she’s ready to try something different. Considering the initial treatment recommendation was amputation, she’s come a long way.
But God gets Jackie through the day. And she’s sharing her story. “If they had found (the tumor) earlier, it would be easier to treat,” she contended. Because of the rarity…anything a doctor does now is ‘practicing’ because it’s so rare.” So, the more Jackie can talk up Desmoid tumors, the more people and doctors will know about it.
“I think opening up and telling my story is going to help,” she said.
Jackie is a part-time junior high basketball coach and referee. Is she in pain a lot of the time? Sometimes…a lot of times actually.
“I try not to show it on my face,” she said. God blesses her with that ability.
“God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good,” Jackie concluded.
