“Faith whispered to her, ‘you cannot withstand the storm’. She whispers back, ‘I AM the Storm’”.

I was diagnosed with NSCLC Adenocarcinoma 3a in May 2025. The tumor in my lower right lung was the size of a softball. After looking at my biopsy report, the 1st thing the pulmonologist said was “Catherine, this is not good, and there is no cure”. What I heard was “sorry,not much we can do; it’s a death sentence”. And she did not deny this. She recommended chemo & radiation.  

My husband Jeff & I dealt with this news with humor. Laughing calms the nervous system. But still, how would that poison help my quality of life? I did my homework before seeing the oncologist. He couldn’t or wouldn’t answer my questions about my biomarkers, TMB & other treatment options. He said “first, we’ll see how you respond to chemo/radiation.” I am terrified of radiation. I imagine a burn hole/exit wound growing on my back with each treatment session, which were 5 days a week for 6 weeks.  Jeff & the nurse were talking about wound care. I heard him quote from the movie Silence of the Lambs: “it rubs the lotion on its skin….”. I laughed, but the nurse, not so much. Admit it- it was funny & a great ice breaker.

There was a little voice in the back of my head saying this isn’t right. I chose to listen to it & got a second opinion at Duke Cancer Center. The oncologist was excited when they saw the TMB numbers. He sent my case to the tumor board and turns out I’m an excellent candidate for immunotherapy.  There were no promises, but there was hope. That’s what I needed- a team that believed they could help.

The chemo/immunotherapy was rough. Fatigue is not tired- fatigue is every ounce of energy being gone.  I woke up in the morning just in time for a nap. Going to work was a challenge. Thank God I had an understanding supervisor & supportive co-workers. Don’t be afraid of asking for help. I was surprised how many people really care.

The tumor shrunk from a soft ball to a “feather like whisper”. I had a lobectomy in Nov 2025, and 95% of the tumor was dead. Nobody used the words cancer free (yet). We continue to monitor. Next month I go for my 1st follow up.

Moral of my story…. listen to that little voice inside of you. Be your own advocate. Get a second opinion if something doesn’t feel right, even if you can’t explain why.

Getting my affairs in order gave me peace of mind. Saying out loud 3 things every day you are grateful for helped me return to a more positive place.

It’s okay to be mad, afraid, or sad. Mourn for your past life & then let go. In a strange way, I believe I was given an opportunity to improve. I am stronger, happier, and will find new adventures & purpose in this precious life.

Don’t stop believing….
is that Journey song now stuck in your head? 😊