October of 2018

At age 52, I was diagnosed with advanced inoperable non-small cell lung cancer, adenocarcinoma stage 3B. My tumor was the size of a baseball, and surgery was not an option as the tumor appeared to be attached to my trachea and possibly had invaded my chest wall cavity. I was in complete shock, terrified, and angry. The tumor had also pressed on my brachial plexus, which is why I have constant pain in my shoulder, arm, and hand. I was in so much pain that I cried all the time. For almost a year, time and time again, I was improperly diagnosed with a pinched nerve in my neck by many different doctors.

Going through seemingly never-ending rounds of chemotherapy and radiation at the same time was very difficult. I truly did not think I would survive these treatments. I have neuropathy in my hands and feet (a side effect from the chemo). I also had a year of immunotherapy.

November of 2021

I was once again diagnosed with lung cancer. I had a lymph node removed and a wedge resection done. I was diagnosed with a second primary lung cancer (SPLC). Protocol stated that since the tumor was removed with clear margins, no other treatment was needed.

September of 2023

I was finally moved to a six-month CT scan, and sadly, there was a worrisome nodule spotted. In June of 2024, I was once again diagnosed with lung cancer.

July of 2024

Surgery was not an option this time. I had five Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) treatments.

November of 2024

CT and brain MRI do not show anything worrisome. Now I am back to three-month scans.

I know the stigma surrounding lung cancer affected me. It took many years to finally accept my disease. It is a struggle to continue with my day-to-day functions as I have many side effects from all my treatments.

As a fellow lung cancer survivor has said, “The only prerequisite for lung cancer is having lungs.” Survivor-to-survivor support is meaningful because even though we are all on different journeys and treatments, we can relate to one another and having to hear that devastating moment of diagnosis.

When I was diagnosed in 2018, the five-year survival rate was 15%. Now, in 2024, it is 25%.

I will always have hope that the survival rates continue to increase.