My name is Bobbie and I've had lung cancer twice. Let me tell you my story. In March of 2012, while sitting in church with the 5th grade class I worked with I suddenly felt my chest getting very heavy, and my left arm went numb. I was rushed to the hospital where I was told it was not a heart attack, but to follow up with my doctor. I did just that, and after having a CT scan and a PET scan, I was diagnosed with stage 1 non-small cell lung cancer.
Surgery was the way to go so on April 22, 2012 I had my upper left lobe removed. Doctor said I had a 5% chance of it ever returning. Pretty good odds wouldn't you say? I was put on a 5 year plan meaning that a CT scan would be done every six months. Now, after the first couple of scans you get pretty confident or at least I did. My husband had always gone with me for the results, but last November 2014 I went alone. The doctor came in and said they spotted something, and I would need a PET scan. For anyone who has had cancer you know what that means. I was devastated I couldn't believe this was happening again. I felt fine. I went back to work, and was exercising every day. I had the scan done and got the news the next day. This time around I needed chemo, and radiation. Surgery was not an option. This time it was outside of the lung, and in a place where surgery was impossible.
So the week after Christmas, I started my treatment. I'm not going sugar coat it: chemo made me sick and radiation made me tired. I am done with treatment now, and my last scan came back clean. I will never again go alone to these appointments. My husband will always be by my side nor will I ever have that confident feeling again. Cancer sucks, and all I can do is tell others my story, and help to educate people on the danger of smoking. I was asked not to long ago to speak at a D.A.R.E. graduation. After I was done everyone stood up and applauded. I talk about my journey every chance I get. To all cancer patients keep the faith, and never give up.
