Claribel Lugo
I was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2019 and began my treatment at Yale New Haven.
When I first presented with symptoms, cancer was ruled out with a PET scan, biopsy, and CT that all came out negative. I was treated with prednisone for what they thought was pneumonia.
After 30 days, with no improvement, they did a needle biopsy, which ultimately led to my diagnosis of
lung cancer. Because of the location of the tumor, surgery was an option, and they removed the bottom
half of my left lung. This was followed by chemo, and I was in remission.
1 year later, my lung cancer came back in the right lung. Again, I was treated with surgery to remove the
lower left lung and pleura, chemo, and immunotherapy. The doctor told me the cancer was not curable.
The plan was to watch the tumor, and it was stable for a year. During my routine CT scan, progression
was detected, and I was diagnosed with stage 4, where surgery was no longer a treatment option.
At this point, in May of 2023, I decided to move to NC to be closer to my children and transferred my
care to Dr. Neal Ready at Duke. He took over from here.
More chemo, a clinical trial (which did not work), A second clinical trial with immunotherapy that
worked for a short time with tumor shrinkage before I was treated with chemo and immunotherapy.
I was shocked, depressed, and I hid out as I didn’t want to reach out or connect to anyone. I basically
resolved that I would die and that I would never be able to see my grandkids grow up.
Being at Duke and meeting lung cancer survivors who are doing well gave me hope. Especially meeting
survivors through Lung Cancer Initiative, survivors who were 6, 7, 8 years out. I now have hope. I fully
believe that I’m in the right place, and I trust my doctor and medical team. If there is a next treatment,
they will find it! With hope and my faith and a network of support, I know that I am not alone. I can
fight back, and I can join in and enjoy my life. I am no longer hiding out. I will stay active and I will stay
connected with Lung Cancer Initiative.
Lung Cancer Initiative has been a lifeline with the survivor programs, the LUNGe Forward walk, and being
connected with other survivors. If they did it, I can do it.
Although I have been told that I will always be a stage 4 cancer survivor, I now know my biomarker, and I
realize that more treatment options are becoming available. I will be connecting with a new support group
with others with my exact diagnosis, and that gives me hope.
Lung Cancer Initiative allowed me to be surrounded by survivors who encourage me to
NEVER give up, and I repeat to myself, “Side effects are my reminder that the treatment is working, and
I’ll make it through!!!”
Nobody deserves lung cancer! And I hope to provide hope to others.