Living with Lung Cancer

I was diagnosed with possible lung cancer in early June, 2006. The diagnosis came from a routine X-Ray ordered through my primary physician.

It was pure luck. We caught it early.

A Computerized Tomography, (CT Scan) was immediately ordered. Rather than being the “certain” diagnosis, it provided a reason to test more thoroughly.

It still looked like a tumor. However, the judgement was that it appeared to be at the 1B level.

As you can imagine, I had practically worn my fingers to the bone going on line to find every possible detail related to this most unwelcome visitor to my body.

The next step was the PET scan which really is no big deal. It’s roughly the same as the CT scan with a harmless radioactive solution injected in you approximately 45 minutes prior to the scan. This fluid also contains a strong dose of glycerin (think sugar).

The idea is that cancerous tissue will reveal itself because it absorbs sugar more aggresively. When combined with the radioactive fluid, the mixture literally “glows” on the picture.

This can be a good thing, particularly when that glow is isolated from all the other possible tissue it could infiltrate.

The final test, ordered by my pulminary physician, was a needle biopsy. This process draws the suspect cells directly from the tumor for analysis.

The radiologist who performs this procedure is guided by a real-time CT scan so his chances of getting it right the first time are excellent.

By the way, the procedure is painless.

Well, guest what!

I had cancer. Lung cancer. The killer. Survival rates to five years were dismal. I was 59 so age was not totally in my favor either.

Frankly, my personal habits contributed to the diagnosis…smoking, non-alcoholic yet still somewhat heavy drinking, overweight, minor depression etc.

The good thing is that the positives of my health and attitude outweighed the neagives. Psychologically, I took this on like Rambo on steroids.

I met the surgeon, a young guy with wonderful academic and practice credentials. He set me at ease at our initial meeting with his very low key, humorous approach to life, health, medical science, my prognosis and procedures to give us the highest chance of success.

He also reassured my wife, who, throughout everything, was my angel of mercy through her total love and dedication. May you all have a spouse or partner who can help you as well.

July 3, my surgeon performed a minimally invasive upper left lobectomy. I think it was about a 4-1/2 hour operation. How can you know when you are comfortably asleep?

The beauty of it all is that the tumor was completely removed. It had not penetrated the lung wall and the 13 adjacent lymphatic glands also removed were completely free of cancer.

After recovery, again painless but somewhat aggrevating, I talked to my surgeon on a Friday evening for about an hour by phone. (Yes, he is that caring.)

We decided that it would be to my advantage to go on a fairly stiff regimen of chemotherapy for about four months. My ocologist agreed.

So we did it. Exhaustion was my principal side-effect; however, I still worked and only missed two complete days during the treatment.

As of December, 2007, evidenced by blood sampling and another PET scan, I am free of cancer.

My next follow-up will be this coming May 30, via a CT exam and blood work.

I have taken you through a procedural story of my experience. I did this to let you know that other people have had exactly the experience you are going to have, or are going through.

My approach was aggressive. I wanted to kill this stuff before it killed me.

I didn’t want a second opinion because we had taken a very contemporary and successful method of diagnosis. And, it “looked like, walked like, and quacked like a duck.” So it was a duck named lung cancer

My advice to you is to fight it. Be strong. I won’t say to you not to worry. Just don’t let the worry dominate all the positive things you can do for yourself in terms of reassurance, perserverance, dedication and commitment to healing yourself.

By the way, take your spouse, family and friends on your journey with you. And make it positive! It makes everything easier on them and empowers you to share your love with them in ways you never imagined you could.

Good Luck. I’ll check this site periodically. If you have a question or need a little advice (non-professional), I will try to help.