Cancer, one way to meet people
“I rarely use the word hate, but I hate cancer war metaphors. Fighting cancer. A long battle with cancer,” reads Tony Tovsen from notes he has taken on a phone. Capturing thoughts about his cancer journey is something he calls ‘clearing the junk out of his head.’
At age 57, 16 years ago, he was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer with heavy metastasis to the liver. When he was diagnosed there weren’t any treatments in place, but as time went by research brought in more opportunities. He bounced around to different hospitals as he relocated a time or two for work. He didn’t think he deserved VA health care but finally took the advice of friends who were Veterans and applied to the VA.
Tovsen was drafted into the Army in 1972. “When my dad took me to the federal building in Minneapolis, the Vietnam War was a mess, there were protestors, I was drafted, and wasn’t too happy,” he said. “After Basic Training everything in my life changed for the better. I receive far more than I was ever able to give.”
His two-year military commitment as a missile crewmember detached to the German Air Force got him on the right path for a successful career with a management level position. Nearly 45 years after his service, he applied for VA care and was accepted. He started seeing a VA provider about seven years ago.
“There was a point where I got very involved in my care and all I really wanted was to be reasonably comfortable. After two failed attempts at curing me, that dang near killed me, I decided to take a different route,” he said.
Tovsen was involved in his care and got his civilian and VA providers to work together to find ways to help him maintain his quality of life. When his civilian doctor retired, he I went fully into the VA system. And a move to Minnesota a couple of years ago brought him to the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, where he met Gobind Tarchand, a physician assistant has been part of the team sustaining his health since 2022.
Looking back at his phone notes, Tovsen continues reading one of his latest passages about cancer. “For me, it (cancer) is another adventure as part of life. I can see it from a third-party position of observation or firsthand as an adventure of discovery, problem solving, meeting people I would have not otherwise met. There are moments of joy, danger, new language, people of all types, cultures, entities, skills that have entered my life at the precise time they were needed that inspired me, guided me and healed me.”
Tovsen is fully immersed in care at the Minneapolis VA; he sees a primary doctor at the Shakopee Community Based Outpatient Clinic and a few different specialists at the medical center to include a nutritionist and audiologist. He says the care he receives is excellent, and the attitude of the folks who care for him is astounding, they all seem genuinely happy to care for Veterans.
If you are on a cancer journey of your own, learn what resources are available at the Minneapolis VA June 2, from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Meet with members of the VA Caregiver Support Programs in the flag atrium to include specialized cancer therapists in occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychology, and nutrition. Community Partners will also be part of this Cancer Resource Fair. Don’t miss the chance to discover invaluable resources and support!