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Roberta J.

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.

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