spindogs' Journey with Non-Small Cell, Lung Cancer
Survivor: Lung Cancer > Non-Small Cell
Patient Info: Finished active treatment less than 5 years ago, Male
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Experience Icon Descriptions
Procedure: Drag this icon to show a procedure.
Radiation: Drag this icon to show a specific radiation therapy experience.
Drug Therapy: Drag this icon to show a specific drug therapy experience.
Clinical Trial: Drag this icon to show a clinical trial experience.
Side Effect: Drag this icon to show experience with a specific side effect.
Oh No: Drag this icon to show when something bad happened (e.g., cancer’s back, lost job).
Celebration: Drag this icon to show when something good happened (e.g., last treatment, hair is back).
Loss: Drag this icon to show a time of loss (e.g., lost hair, lost loved one).
Decision Point: Drag this icon to show a time when you had to make a tough decision.
Other Care: Draft this icon to show a time when you needed other care (e.g., hospice, psychotherapy).
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Diagnosed
Oh No
It may sound funny or odd but that diagnosis was really the least of my problems at that time. My first though was, "Gee, I may die of cancer instead of HIV, how ironic!"
Lobectomy
Procedure or Surgery
I was emotionally drained and in rather poor health when I had the surgery. It's a long story and I'm willing to share that, if you're interested. I had no idea how much chest surgery can whack the body. Although the scar is rather small and of no real concern to my self-image, (just another scar to me. I've lived with 3rd degree burn scars since I was 4 years old.) the temporary damage to some of the nerves in my chest was a surprise. Everything seems to have recovered well now and I've found some peace and happiness in my life now.
Lost loved one
Loss
In 1995 I lost my father to lung cancer. He was already in stage 4 when diagnosed.