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Bell-Wick Bowl’s Budd undergoing cancer treatment
Bell-Wick Bowl mainstay undergoing cancer treatment
HUBBARD
Kandy Budd has been the female face of Bell-Wick Bowl for years as its deskperson and barmaid, but recent cancer treatments have taken their toll on her time at the alleys.
“I was told, originally, that it was primary peritoneal serous carcinoma, then I was told that it’s ovarian-based,” said the 69-year-old Budd, the friendly sidekick to proprietor Francis Zitnik, who has also had health problems in recent years and who is currently hospitalized.
Budd first became concerned when she had difficulty talking.
“When people asked how I was doing, I said, ‘marvelous,’ but then I went to my heart doctor and told him I was marvelous, too. He said, ‘no, you’re not, Kandy.’ And he said, ‘why don’t you get some blood work and a chest x-ray?’ ”
After consulting her family doctor, she was told to get to the emergency room.
“That was Aug. 31, thinking that I had pneumonia because it was going around and that would be the reason I wasn’t able to breathe. I had a chest x-ray done and they admitted me. In five days, I had about five quarts of fluid removed from the pleural space [lining of the lungs].”
All the while, Budd didn’t know exactly what was going on except that lung cancer was definitely ruled out. Since then, she’s been going to Sharon Regional’s cancer care center.
Budd had her third chemotherapy treatment on Nov. 13 and, at some point, her gynecological oncologist in Pittsburgh may schedule a complete open hysterectomy.
During that time they will do what’s called debulking — searching for and surgically removing as much cancer as possible.
“She’s very determined to get rid of every cancer that she sees,” Budd said. “After that, they believe that I’ll need to have at least three more rounds of chemo.”
Kandy said she’s been blessed with good friends.
“I’m not working now much, so the money’s a little thin, but bowling leagues have collected money for me. Friends and relatives have been helping out whenever I need something. From my understanding, they’re planning a bowl-a-thon for me at Bell-Wick on Feb. 26.”
Budd said she has a prayer group of unbelievable size.
“I’m feeling very protected. I have a positive outlook and am trying not to listen to everything the doctor says that might make me worried. My son, Jason, has been awesome. He has asked thousands of questions of every doctor I’ve seen, so he knows more about what I’m going through than I do. But like I said, I honestly feel that if I don’t know, I won’t think about it.”
Her son is an opera singer, who performed in Madam Butterfly at Stambaugh Auditorium recently.
Kandy still helps at Bell-Wick, especially in Zitnik’s absence.
“I do go in a little bit. I used to work 40 hours a week, but I’m now working between four and 10 hours spread out over a couple days because my stamina isn’t what it used to be.”
Her condition has also put a halt to her work as an instructor of a SilverSneakers exercise class for senior citizens.
“That’s a little difficult,” Kandy said of any exertion. “Not only is my voice weak, but, physically I’m drained. It’s very tiring. I’ve learned to do a little bit and rest a lot.”
Because she has neuropathy (loss of feeling in fingers and toes) as a side effect from the treatments, Kandy’s driving is limited.
Budd has also lost her hair, so she wears a stocking hat.
“That’s because it’s a little too cold to walk around bald,” the sometimes purple and red-haired Kandy quipped.
Budd worked at Bell-Wick from 1976-87, then left and went to Northside Lanes from 1987-90. She worked at Camelot Lanes from 1992-94, then returned to Bell-Wick from 1994 to the present.
“I know a lot of the bowlers,” she said.
Since her ordeal began, Budd has become familiar with several medical terms.
“I didn’t know there were two layers to my abdomen and I told the surgeon who went in to do the exploratory surgery, ‘While you’re in there suctioning, get rid of any fat tubes you find.’ I kept teasing him and, as he was walking out, I said it one more time and he replied, ‘I really don’t want you to be disappointed, but the answer is NO!’ ”
While the treatments at the hospital have been tough, the staff hasn’t.
“They were really good to me at Sharon Regional – marvelous people, and one doctor [Dr. Donald Eugene Berman] became my advocate. He was not the surgeon but he observed almost all of my procedures. He kept telling me that he’s going to beat me bowling some day, so I have to get better.”