My Story

Everyone always asks, “How did you find out you had cancer?” Here’s my story. I left in a lot of detail in the event someone who sees him/herself in my story may understand what steps to take to find out if they have lung cancer earlier than I did.

With degrees in nutrition and business, and experience working in the field of health, fitness and healthcare, I was on top of current trends on health and wellness. I was committed to maintaining my health through healthy eating and exercise. I never smoked. I was diligent about my annual check ups and sought preventive care even when I didn’t have health insurance. I always felt that no one had more at stake in my good health than me.

I enjoyed excellent health until I was 35 years old. I got my first cold in years! I was also 8 months pregnant with my first child. My daughter, Sarah, was born a few weeks early, she was tiny, healthy and wonderful.

I settled into my life as a new mother. I loved it! When my daughter was almost two years old, I decided it was time to choose a family physician rather than each of us seeing individual doctors in different locations. Plus I had some health issues I wanted to have checked. The physician I chose was close to my age, a very good listener, and I felt a good fit for my family’s needs. I reviewed my “head to toe” list of health issues. At the top of the list was the cold I got when I was pregnant that I still had two years later. She did a physical exam and said the cold was a viral infection. Nothing to do but wait for it to run its course.

During the next few months, when I thought about having another baby, I found myself thinking that I hadn’t bounced back from my first pregnancy yet. I was tired and felt that my energy level was off. Plus I felt a sadness that was very unusual. By nature I was an optimistic person. I always saw the bright side of every situation. Lately I felt a sense of impending doom. At night I sometimes found myself sitting by my daughter’s bed. In my mind I cried, “Is it too much to ask that I see her grow up? Is that too much to ask?” I wondered what I was sensing? I began asking my husband what the probability was of there being a war on our own soil. I was serious, I couldn’t put my finger on it but I felt that danger was near.

Plus this cold wouldn’t go away. It was really starting to annoy me. I was constantly clearing my throat. I didn’t cough much, but when I did it was hard to stop. I was eating menthol cough drops like candy. This was no cold…it had to be an …an…allergy! I made another appointment with the doctor and another. Again the verdict came back, viral infection, maybe an allergy. I promptly visited an allergist, director of the department. We both concluded from that visit that I did not have an allergy. Curiously, the allergist suggested that I could be producing too much mucus. He never gave any further explanation. He acted bored and annoyed because I interrupted his speech with my questions. He didn’t even make eye contact with me. I decided not to go back there. I wish I had asked him why a person might produce too much mucus.

My primary experience with doctors up to that point was annual check ups. And all of a sudden I had seen this doctor at least 6 times in less than 6 months. And I kept being told it I had a viral infection. A viral infection that lasted for two and a half years? I didn’t believe it. But I didn’t know what it could be...more..

Discussion

By the time I experienced my first symptoms in 1998, it was likely that I’d had a tumor for 5-7 years prior. I’d had a normal routine chest X ray for a job around 1992-1993. Sometime between 1993 and 1998 I developed a malignant tumor in my left lung. It went undetected for seven years, despite 3 years of symptoms and a year-long search for the cause of my symptoms. More...

Changing Public Perception

I sought solace and support from centers that provided services to breast cancer survivors. They didn’t turn me away. But where were all the lung cancer support centers? Where were all the lung cancer survivors? Where are the people like me, non-smokers with lung cancer? Where was I to find hope? More...

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