Sunny Carney was cancer-free for about a decade when, several years ago, she started having problems breathing.
When treatments for asthma wouldn't work and she developed pneumonia, Carney, 38, of Plum knew something else was wrong. A scan revealed tumors in her right lung. Doctors removed the lung and monitored her with scans every three months.
Late last year, Carney began having back pain. During a May trip to Kennywood, she had difficulty walking.
"I should have persisted (in getting a diagnosis)," Carney said.
Further scans revealed tumors in her liver and bones -- in her spine, skull, hip, legs and shoulder -- and a diagnosis of Carcinoid syndrome.
The cancer occurs when a rare tumor called a carcinoid tumor secretes certain chemicals into the bloodstream, causing a variety of symptoms. Carcinoid tumors occur most commonly in the gastrointestinal tract, in the lungs, or, rarely, in the ovaries.
Carney believes her first bout of ovarian cancer and her second bout with lung cancer were both Carcinoid syndrome but were misdiagnosed.
The past several months have been difficult for Carney and her husband, Mark, also 38, and their sons, Austen, 11, Logan, 10, and Nolan, 9. The boys are students at Pivik Elementary School, where Carney several years ago served as PTA president.
Carney's treatment regimen is chemoembolization, a procedure in which the blood supply to tumors is blocked and anticancer drugs are administered directly into the tumor. She is undergoing treatments that attempt to stop the growth of the tumors.
Sunny Carney said the treatments are painful and expensive, and are not a cure.
So she is looking toward what she said is her best bet at beating Carcinoid syndrome -- yttrium 90, used to treat inoperable liver cancer. It delivers internal radiation directly to the tumor in an attempt to shrink it.
Sunny Carney said the treatment is expensive. She is not sure of the cost, but it is not covered by her insurance company. She has bills from the treatment.
"My attitude is, if you tell me it is a million dollars (for the treatment), I will figure it out," Sunny Carney said.
With the large anticipated expense of the yttrium 90, Carney and her family are working to raise money with a wiffleball tournament.
Mark Carney said registrations continue to come in for the Sept. 28 tournament. Prizes will be awarded for top winners. There will be food, beverages, music and other activities.
The family wants to make the tournament an annual event and hopes Sunny Carney is in remission next year so the event can benefit another person with cancer.
The family has set up a fund to support Carney's treatments. Donations can be sent to: S&T Bank, Sunny Carney Carcinoid Cancer Fund, 2190 Hulton Road, Verona, PA 15147.
The Carneys are grateful for the support they've received from family members and friends throughout Sunny's illness.
"The community has been tremendous," Mark Carney said. "People have been bring food over for meals. And people volunteered to landscape (my yard) for me all summer."
He said he draws strength from his wife's fighting spirit. "Her boundless energy, healthy lifestyle and positive attitude are infectious."
"I need to fight," Sunny Carney said. "I'm not giving up."
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