Faces of Lung Cancer
I'm certain that because I visited my doctor on a regular basis, and he knew me so well, he was able to identify that something was wrong with my health.
~ Gail
Gail's Story
Since I can remember, I have lived life on my own terms, believing I was in control of my own destiny. But, in June of 1998, I was proven wrong by a frightening diagnosis.
My lung cancer was found by mistake, thanks in large part to the strong relationship I had developed with my doctor. The diagnosis was actually not my first experience with cancer. Years earlier I had a basal cell (a form of skin cancer) on my eyebrow, and in 1998 I had a recurrence. At the time, my husband and I were going through the process of selling our home and moving to another. Needless to say, it was a very stressful time.
When I met with my physician to discuss removing the skin cancer, he noticed there was something more than the reoccurrence and stress of the move affecting my health. He suggested we reschedule and have the cancer removed at the hospital, rather than his office. Thank God! I'm certain that because I visited him on a regular basis, and he knew me so well, he was more quickly able to identify my agitated state and determine the need to check into my health beyond the skin cancer.
The following week, as I lay on the surgical table, my physician received a call from the x-ray technician who had spotted a mark on my lungs. Immediately he ordered a spiral CT (computed tomography) scan - a non-invasive scan of the lungs and other organs. The results were inconclusive, and battery of tests followed. At one point they even thought I might have tuberculosis, as I was a middle school teacher and exposed to children daily. The medical team (and indeed it was a team of doctors, nurses, and technicians) was diligent in performing tests to identify what was wrong with my lungs. After a few weeks, I was finally diagnosed with stage 2A non-small cell lung cancer.
I believe the preventative measure my physician had taken before my diagnosis helped save my life. Every year, he had insisted that I have a chest x-ray, which meant previous pictures of my lungs were available when my medical team was trying to discover what was wrong. Because the spot was not there the year before, the physicians were able to more easily identify the cancer in its early stages.
I chose to forego chemotherapy, and after surgery, and successful radiation treatment, I decided to make some changes. I had been a committed smoker for most of my life. However, despite my long history of smoking - 40 years total - quitting wasn't difficult for me. I remember having dinner with friends one night, and after our meal, they began smoking. I realized, 'Gee, I'm not smoking and I don't want to.' Just like that, I was done with cigarettes and for the first time, truly living life on my terms.
In addition to the early detection and regular screenings, I credit my current health to my positive attitude toward my diagnosis and recovery. I learned to be my own advocate when it came to the tests, diagnosis, and treatment, and was involved in all decisions pertaining to my care. Today, I continue to make plans and book trips for myself, knowing that all these things mean I have a future.