My name is Lisa C., and I have my husband of 35 years with me today. I am a Christian, a wife, a mother, a Mimi, an operations manager, a Cancer Patient, and Survivor. I want to start by thanking God, my Oncologist, Dr. Misty Shields, and AstraZeneca for making Durmaluvab which continues to fight my cancer.
I was ashamed that I smoked; and that I had caused my lung cancer. These are the lies I told myself just like the commercial says. Lung cancer can be caused by environmental factors, biological inheritance and life stressors like the loss of a child which I experienced when I lost my son, Noah unexpectedly in November 2021.
In 2022, I had Covid twice and kept being told it was long Covid. I went to a clinic where the doctor encouraged me to get a free lung scan because I was a smoker. I did not have health insurance through my employer and had the free screening not been available, I probably would not be here standing before you now.
My lung cancer began when I was diagnosed February 1, 2023, with stage 3C non-small cell adenocarcinoma lung cancer. The tumor measured 6.9 x 4.2 x 3.9 cm which was the size of a skoal can and encased the upper right lobe bronchovesicular tree with luminal narrowing of the posterior segment bronchi and was inoperable.
My treatments consisted of 5 weeks of chemotherapy with Carboplatin and Paclitaxel weekly, 6 weeks of radiation each weekday followed by Durmaluvab immunotherapy infusions monthly for a year. Due to my long commute, my oncologist would schedule testing, visits and infusions all in the same visit. On one of these visits, I was in the chair with an IV and the nurse stated he wanted to be transparent and that my insurance was denying my treatment because my infusion was 3 weeks instead of 4 weeks apart and I would have to take off work next week and come back or pay for the treatment out of pocket. I told them we could not take off again next week for this and to be transparent I most likely would either not live or have the money to pay for all of this anyway. I was in a fight for my life and did not need this added stress. I was weak and had to call my insurance myself to get it approved and completed that day.
At the end of my radiation treatments, I faced more complications. I had to have my gallbladder removed after my final radiation treatment. Food and pills get hung up on my proximal thoracic esophagus at the aortic knob with a coronal orientation and then become lodged at my lower esophageal sphincter. I have constant diarrhea and am losing weight. I have inflammation and pain every day. I had pneumonia and was in progressive care for weeks in October of 2024. I tell myself this all just means I am still alive and grateful.
I am ashamed that I have not even looked at the medical bills piling up. To be honest, I will most likely have to file bankruptcy to avoid being homeless.
In January 2025 there was complete resolution of the cavity lesion in the right lower lobe and no sign of the tumor and nothing to measure. Praise the lord.
We are asking for better healthcare coverage that is affordable. Since 2014 I have paid between $1,000 and $1,400 per month for health insurance with a high deductible. Currently, my deductible is $10,000 per family member. In 2025 Congress cut $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid that will lead to 10 million people losing their coverage. Congress did not pass legislation to extend tax care credits through the ACA marketplace which will lead to 4 million people losing their coverage and skyrocketing premiums for 20 million people.
