Living with Lung Cancer

In December of 1999 at the age of 61, I was diagnosed with non small cell cancer in my upper left lung. I was given three chemotherapy treatments (one each week for 3 weeks) consisting of Taxol and Carboplatin and 25 Radiation treatments to reduce the size of the cancer and because it was possible that the cancer was also growing to the pluera wall.

I was scheduled for surgery after the treatments but had to wait for 4 weeks because the chemotherapy treatments had reduced by white blood cell count which increased the possibility of contracting infection. Surgery was finally performed in March of 2000 to remove about 1/5th of my left lung. The surgeon told me that he felt that he had removed all of the cancer and that I wasn’t any more susceptible to having cancer again than any one else.

Five years later (April, 2004) due to unexplained pain in my abdominal area, I was scheduled to have an abdominal Ct scan. I requested a Ct scan of my chest at the same time, since it had been two years since I had had one. The chest ct scan showed a spot on the upper lobe of my right lung. A needle biopsy was inconclusive, but a subsequent Pet scan showed activitiy in that area and in the Hilar node. The doctors concluded that this cancer was not related to the previous cancer but was a second primary cancer.

I had surgery to remove the right upper lobe of my lung and the surgeon checked the Hilar node but did not see signs of cancer. The day I was scheduled to go home from the hospital, I became unable to breathe due to double pneumonia and had to be put on a ventilator. I recovered and after a stay of 24 days in the hospital, I was able to go to recuperate at my sister’s home nearby.

A subsequent Petscan about 3 months after the surgery still showed activity in the Hilar node. My oncologist said that it was possible that it was not cancer but he and I both agreed that we didn’t want to take a chance that it was cancer, so I was put on a schedule of chemotherapy (Taxotere and Gemcidabine) once a week for 3 weeks, then skip a week and then back to 3 weeks, etc. for a period of 6 months.

I had planned on attending pulmonary rehabilitation before I started the chemotherapy treatment, so after tests to determine if I would be able to participate in the rehabilitation, I attended pulmonary rehabilitation while I was taking the chemotherapy drugs. I attended 3 days a week exercizing for 1 hour each day for 6 weeks, then continued on maintenance 2 days each week. Toward the end of my chemotherapy treatment and due to the drugs, I had to be put on oxygen 24 hours per day.

There was a possibility that I would have to remain on oxygen permanently, but I was determined that I would build up my strength and get off of it. I was able to reduce the time using oxygen each day until after about 9 months, I no longer needed it. I also had pneumonia twice within 2 months of the completion of chemotherapy.

Since that time, I have had Petscans and Ctscans which show that I am now cancer free. Other than being susceptible to pneumonia (which I again had in February of 2007 after having a liter of fluid removed from around my left lung) and being short of breath if I am very active, I am feeling great. I have other aches and pains but I attribute them to being 70 years old now.

Through all of these problems, I have kept a positive attitude, which I think is a very important part of the recovery process. Most importantly, I believed that God was taking care of me and that I would be all right. I thank Him every day the blessing of His love and care. I also thank my sister for her care during the year that I lived with her while going through surgery, recuperation and chemotherapy.

There is life after lung cancer and I try to live each day of it to the fullest.