A call that changed Christmas
It was Christmas Eve in 2018, and as I was on the way home from my last-minute Christmas shopping, I received a call from my pulmonologist. While I knew she would call me any day now, just as soon as she received back my lung biopsy results, I pulled my car over, took the biggest breath and accepted the call. After so many doctor visits and doubts that lung cancer would be the finding (given my age and smoking history), it was official, my lung biopsy indicated that I had lung cancer. I didn’t understand the importance of it at that moment, but my doctor also shared the “good news” that there was biomarker testing conducted, and it revealed that I have an EGFR mutation. We ended the call with a plan to come in and meet with a thoracic surgeon, something she arranged that same day. We ended the call, a I found myself parked in a spot where I have no doubt I was meant to be, at the church that is just down the road from my house. I remember feeling numb, frozen with so many emotions but then I looked over at the church and shifted to prayer. I prayed for strength and peace, especially for my children. Thankful that I had this private moment to receive the news and gather strength for what was to become my new life.
Starting cancer treatment
Just after Christmas, a few days into the New Year, I had my surgery which included a bronchoscopy, mediastinoscopy, right lower lobectomy, thoracic lymphadenectomy. The biopsy from this surgery indicated I had Stage IIB Adenocarcinoma.
After recovering from the surgery, I completed 4 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy by May 2019.
Due to having chronic pain and many other issues, I had a PET scan on 2/3/23, which showed that I had bleeding lesion in my brain, spine, scapula, sacrum, and other lymph node avidity.
First course of treatment was having a craniotomy followed by SRS radiation.
Following the surgery and radiation in April 2023, I started taking Tagrisso which is a targeted therapy to treat lung cancer with specific mutations. I have had a positive response, with my recent scans showing “Stable to slight improvement with NO recurrent disease”.
Learning I had cancer was what I have come to see as a gift
Looking back on what felt like was a very hopeless day on Christmas Eve in 2018, I can honestly say that learning I had cancer was what I have come to see as a gift. While there have been many difficult moments, when things seemed dire, HOPE has kept me going and with gratitude for the gift of life and the countless blessings. There’s a phrase I say (and live) daily, “progress over perfection”. These three words strengthen me and remind me to focus on what I can do NOT what I can’t. No day is promised, and I wake each day with so much gratitude and hope!
Lung cancer resources
Lung Cancer Initiative (LCI) and LiveLung have been two of the organizations offering wonderful support and hope. In addition to their boundless support through survivor engagement, fundraisers, research and advocacy, LCI connected me with Wind River for the Lung Cancer Retreat, the beginning of what has come to be the most meaningful friendships and connections.
The gift of support
Sometimes we just need someone to be there, not to fix anything or do anything in particular, but just to let us know we are supported and cared about.
The gift of having this support helped me learn to live post diagnosis, during and after treatment and in between each surveillance scan.
My words of hope I’d like to share with all survivors and caregivers, is to REMEMBER TO LIVE WHILE YOU’RE BUSY SURVIVING!
