Positive outlook on life goes a long way for Decorah's Penny Bockman

L-R: Joe, Mark, Penny, and Matthew Bockman at one of the many basketball tournaments she has enjoyed going to

You've probably heard the saying "attitude is everything." That may just be part of the reason why it's been a good year for Decorah resident Penny Bockman, who just completed her 23rd immunotherapy treatment this month. Since Penny was diagnosed in October of 2017 with stage 4 lung cancer, she has been having treatments every three weeks in La Crosse.

Anyone who knows Penny knows that she is a people person who usually has a smile on her face and loves her customers at T-Bock's. Penny has cut back to working just three days a week, a few hours over lunch. Although she would love to work more, she's learned it is in her best interest not to overdo it.

It should not come as a surprise that Penny's positive attitude shows in her treatments. When she travels for her treatments in La Crosse, her doctor will ask her, "How's my favorite patient?" Penny just finished her 23rd treatment on March 1st. Her doctors have remarked that she is the longest patient they've had under their care.

Immunotherapy is a relatively new approach to fighting lung cancer. The side effects are far less harsh than chemotherapy, which attacks virtually everything. Instead, immunotherapy can work by either stimulating a person's own immune system to work harder, by attacking cancer cells, or by giving a person man-made immune system proteins. With this treatment, a patient will not lose their hair or become sick following treatments. A patient may even appear healthy.

Penny shared with decorahnews.com, "Overall I'm feeling pretty good! I am feeling truly blessed to be able to do immunotherapy! Sure makes me tired for a few days and my muscles ache, but nothing a good nap can't cure."

One side effect Penny is dealing with is diabetes from damage her pancreas received from her initial treatments. At first she gave herself daily shots of insulin to control her blood sugar. Now she has a pump that administers the insulin. When Penny started her treatment she was on 25 narcotics, but now she is down to one. Since starting treatments she has not had a cold or the flu or any sickness. Penny had a scan in February to check how her treatment is going. That scan showed she is staying stable and won't need another scan until July.

Penny's positive attitude has gone a long way toward her outlook on life. "I don't sit at home and dwell on the fact that I have cancer. I get my rest and try to stay away from germs. I don't get down and out. I try to focus on new things coming up and staying positive. My first and foremost is to be a good wife and mother and if I don't get rest, then I'm not there for them like I should be."