Student's show Palmer what they learned during her battle with cancer

Mary Jane Palmer taught much more than math and physics to high school students last year.

Just by walking in the door on Mondays, after her Friday chemotherapy treatments, Palmer inspired the students to never let anything stop them. The Carthage High School seniors honored her inspiration with a special presentation during graduation in May.

During this past school year, Palmer taught dual credit math and physics at Warsaw High School for Carl Sandburg College; she taught physics and tutored at Carthage High School; and she taught an evening physics class at Carl Sandburg College Carthage Branch Campus.

In June, before this grueling schedule began, she discovered a lump in her breast.

“I went for a check up and the mammogram found a lump on the other side as well. I had a lumpectomies the week before school started,” Palmer said.

“Dr. Carapresso is so good. We are so blessed to have him here. He's cutting edge. He injected dye into the lymph system to see what was affected.

“I did a lot of study on line. It said ‘The better hospitals are doing this.' He is impressive.”

Palmer was at school for the first day of classes, and every day after that. She began chemotherapy treatments in September, going to Quincy on Friday afternoon every three weeks, six times.

“I had the treatment on Friday. By Monday I was able to go back to school. I was never sick or nauseous. Oh, sometimes I was going a little slower on Mondays. The worst reaction I had was during Christmas vacation, when I was sick for two days. It wiped me out. I think it was because I didn't have school and the kids. I needed them.”

Her chemo ended in January, and she had a break before beginning radiation during March and April. She went to the Quincy cancer center for treatments, seeing Dr. Arambide for her chemotherapy and Dr. Yu for radiation.

“She (Dr. Arambide) was great. She was right up on the latest with my drug sequences. Again the internet said the latest hospitals are doing what she did,” Palmer said.

At graduation, the seniors, including far more students than she had in her classes, signed the mat on a wall hanging that simply said, “inspiration.” Their comments showed what they had gained from her: “Your attitude was amazing every single day.” “Love your smile.” “Your strength is admirable.” “Best physics teacher.” “Rock on, MJ.” “Kick cancer's butt.”

“I think they learned that a lot of things are possible,” Palmer said. “Just because you get devastating news, you don't stop. You never know what you can do. Just keep working at it.”

For Palmer, the devastating news has turned. Initial results show everything is clear, and she is into a monitoring phase. She is seeing the doctor every three months now, not every week, and will have a mammogram every six months for three times, and then spaced out to a year.

Palmer is very aware of the advances in cancer treatment, aided by such events as the Relay for Life, which begins Saturday, June 17, at the courthouse square in Carthage.

“I'm grateful to those people who give money, and the ones who go through those trials,” she said. Cancer runs in Palmer's family, having hit her sister when she was 49, and her mother, two years ago at age 83. They are on a different maintenance drug, Tomoxafin, than Palmer, who is taking Femara, and will for the next five years.

“There's some debate on what to do after the five years. But the way it has been going, who knows,” she said. “I'm a person who does a lot on the internet to get information.”

Her advice to someone who gets a cancer diagnosis? “Call somebody.” Talk to people who have been through it. Learn all you can.

Palmer has learned much on the internet, and from her students and friends at school.

“I learned the power of positive thought and prayer. That has definitely helped. I can tell it. I thank everybody.”

Palmer has not slowed down just because school ended in May. She is teaching a Carl Sandburg College math independent study lab, with 13 students in four different math classes. And she plans to teach more at the college and dual credit classes at high schools next year.

Taking her student's advice, MJ is rockin' on.