Hello, I hope you'll all welcome me into the group. So, I'm 40 years old, and back in 2013, I was diagnosed with lung cancer. It all started with these terrible bouts of pneumonia that lasted for weeks at a time. Those were my first symptoms. I ended up in a hospital in Indianapolis, where they told me it was just a standard case of pneumonia; I felt better, so they sent me home. However, I kept going back for monthly checkups, and the X-rays always looked suspicious—there was this persistent shadow showing up in the lower right lobe. They kept telling me it was just a common infection.
After a series of tests that didn't exactly bring good news, I was referred to the Mayo Clinic. I was seen by an excellent doctor, Copernicus, who is very young and highly promising. We immediately ran tumor markers, and he ordered a bronchoscopy along with a full pulmonary workup. That's when I was diagnosed with lung cancer in the lower right lobe. I had surgery in August 2013, which went well, and I started my first round of chemotherapy.
However, a year later, in August 2014, a PET-CT scan showed a recurrence. I started further chemotherapy immediately. Then, in December 2014, another PET-CT confirmed the disease had progressed to Stage IV. After deciding to go with targeted therapy using Alimta, we performed a third PET-CT this past June after four cycles, and it showed an excellent regression of the disease. Since then, I've had two more rounds of chemo. I had a standard CT scan a few days ago and am currently waiting on the results. God willing, everything will be alright.
In the fight against cancer, medicine is a huge factor, but I believe if a person gives up spiritually or mentally, then it's over. You have to fight; you have to stay positive. Even if you're told your time might be limited—which I know is incredibly hard to hear, and nobody should have to face that—you still need to live normally and maintain a positive outlook. I realize that this illness might have shortened my life regardless of my age, but I try to remain optimistic after everything I've been through. So, I want to wish you all plenty of love and optimism. I would love for us to share our experiences.
_
After a series of tests that didn't exactly bring good news, I was referred to the Mayo Clinic. I was seen by an excellent doctor, Copernicus, who is very young and highly promising. We immediately ran tumor markers, and he ordered a bronchoscopy along with a full pulmonary workup. That's when I was diagnosed with lung cancer in the lower right lobe. I had surgery in August 2013, which went well, and I started my first round of chemotherapy.
However, a year later, in August 2014, a PET-CT scan showed a recurrence. I started further chemotherapy immediately. Then, in December 2014, another PET-CT confirmed the disease had progressed to Stage IV. After deciding to go with targeted therapy using Alimta, we performed a third PET-CT this past June after four cycles, and it showed an excellent regression of the disease. Since then, I've had two more rounds of chemo. I had a standard CT scan a few days ago and am currently waiting on the results. God willing, everything will be alright.
In the fight against cancer, medicine is a huge factor, but I believe if a person gives up spiritually or mentally, then it's over. You have to fight; you have to stay positive. Even if you're told your time might be limited—which I know is incredibly hard to hear, and nobody should have to face that—you still need to live normally and maintain a positive outlook. I realize that this illness might have shortened my life regardless of my age, but I try to remain optimistic after everything I've been through. So, I want to wish you all plenty of love and optimism. I would love for us to share our experiences.
_