Life with Cancer: Meet a woman who faked having cancer—three times!

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  Posted by Ann Fri Oct 10, 2008 1:43pm PDT

  Imagine my surprise when I saw in black and white that the saga of Suzanne Bass continues. I am related to Suzanne by marriage. My family was a victim of her first cry of cancer in 1995. My mother had been through radiation and was going through chemo treatments when we first learned of Suzanne's cancer. Mother had been told she only had a few months to live but refused to give up and was fighting with everything she had to beat the odds. The chemo was hard on Mom and treatments took a long time so we usually had a room to ourselves. Suzanne would come by after having her own "treatment" and visit with us. She would sit and talk with Mom about the ordeal they were both facing and I felt it was good for Mother to have someone she could talk to; someone going through the same thing. I had also hoped seeing Suzanne thriving so well would give my Mother even more hope and possibly the strength to beat her own cancer. As time went on, the doctors told us they had done all they could and sent Mother home under Hospice care. Mother insisted on planning her funeral while she was still able. Even with this heavy burden on her, the agony and pain of death creeping upon her ever so rapidly, she continued to worry and ask about Suzanne. To add another twist to the story, my Mother's dear friend and next door neighbor at the time is also related to Suzanne. We live in a small community. During the last two weeks of my Mother's life she was completely bedridden. The last week of her life she lay there unable to communicate but I like to believe she knew we were all there. There was nothing we could do now but try to ease her pain and pray. I would lay next to her at night listening to her breathing wondering if it would be the last. For those of you that have been caregivers you understand what I am talking about. I can't remember what day it was, but I will never forget the moment I learned Suzanne had been lying about her cancer. I met my Mother's friend and neighbor, Suzanne's relative, at the door. At first I thought it was just her normal daily visit, but she stood there hesitant, tears in her eyes, wringing her hands and I knew something was wrong. She proceeded to tell me what Suzanne had done and how sorry she was for it. I was stunned. I thought of some of my Mother's last words to me, especially those expressing her concern for Suzanne. My Mother had died having prayed and worried about someone pretending to be dying. Someone she thought she had a connection with. I can't begin to express the pain I felt, the physical illness, anger and most of all the hate I felt toward "that woman" at that time. How dare she, who did she think she was, and how in God's name did she pull this off? In hindsight, I can see so many instances that just didn't add up, but how could you not believe someone when they tell you they have cancer. I remember one time noticing a bad burn on her neck. She told me it was from radiation. It had been done purposely by a curling iron. I remember asking her if her Mom or Dad was with her during her chemo treatments. I wanted to say hello. She told me she didn't want to put her family through the trauma so she had friends bring her and wait in the lobby. Suzanne was coming into the office, walking into the back where they do chemo and just visiting with people until she had been back long enough to say she had a treatment. Those friends now remember that not once did they ever hear a nurse call her back for treatment. She just went on her own and with so many patients and caregivers going in and out it was easy for her to go unnoticed. During these times she was learning more and more about cancer and the treatment process. At the same time, all the nurses and doctors thought she was there as a caregiver for one of the patients. She had told us she was seeing the same doctor as my Mom. During one of my Mom's treatments she was in the room with us when our Doctor came in. She spoke to him as if she'd known him a very long time and I barely remember her mentioning something about her treatment. I noticed he gave her a funny look, but having had some heated debates with him myself, I assumed he was frustrated with her for some reason. I found out later he had no idea who she was. There were so many signs that it makes you wonder how her family, friends, and co-workers were fooled for so long. What makes someone do something so horrible. For a very very long time I could not stand to hear Suzanne's name mentioned. I was filled with a hate I've never experienced before. All I could think and feel was that she was alive and my Mother was dead. I knew Suzanne moved shortly afterwards and I haven't seen her since, but I do see her parents and other family members on occasion and for a long time that was very tough for me. She was pretending to die, playing a game, craving attention and putting her family through hell. My mom did die after fighting so hard to live and see her grandchildren grow up. She hated the way her cancer ate away at the rest of her family, forever changing them. It has taken me a long time to get over what I felt Suzanne had done to my Mother, to me and my family. I credit my Mother for leading me to forgiving Suzanne and to understand that she was acting out as a result of sickness and not maliciousness. My Mother was the most loving, caring, giving, compasionate and forgiving person I have ever known. If she were alive today she would tell me to look deeper into Suzanne. To realize that although her disease is not life threatening, it is a disease. It is a terrible disease that affects everyone around her but she did not choose to have this. This is something that could happen to anyone. She would also tell me to think of her parents and family. Suzanne is a daughter, sister, and aunt. She has been through the tragedy of suddenly losing a niece at a very young age. These are good, hard working caring people who love Suzanne very much. My heart goes out to them all. I do have to say though that when I first read your article in our local paper, I was once again outraged, hurt and felt that awful gut wrenching hate all over again. But as I sat down in tears to write this, to spew out hateful insults, I looked over and saw a picture we took the Christmas before Mother died. Even then she was laughing and loving and much more concerned about her family and friends than she was herself. But mostly, I could hear her telling me to love unconditionally, not to be mad at something I have no control over, and to be understanding and forgiving. I pray for the strength to do so and I pray for Suzanne to get the help she needs and I wish her well. Mom, I love you and miss you so much. And Suzanne, I do forgive you.

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