I was diagnosed in December 2020 with stage 2B non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after getting myself checked for symptoms like coughing and shortness of breath.
I started coughing and having shortness of breath while hiking in the morning. I’ve had the symptoms for a while now but it got really bad that day and I felt a little dizzy. Maybe the altitude made it worse, I’m not so sure, but it made me want to get it checked.
Turns out, it was stage 2B non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). I was also found to qualify for targeted therapy, which wasn’t a substitute for chemo but it was supposed to help.
Finding out I had cancer left me overwhelmingly fearful, helpless and worried. These emotions were compounded by the fact that my dad passed away from lung cancer and my mum had leukemia.
Post-diagnosis, I made certain adjustments to my lifestyle. In particular, I exercised less regularly and ate more healthily 3 to 5 days of the week.
My oncologist initially recommended a
All of which I opted for. After deciding on this treatment plan, I did feel anxious and scared, but somewhat motivated at the same time.
They did targeted therapy and chemo first. Some of the chemo medications I took include
- cisplatin
- docetaxel
- pemetrexed
After the tumor shrunk and got smaller, they did surgery to remove parts of the lung with the tumor.
Right now, I’m on targeted therapy to keep the cancer in remission.
Cancer treatment came with its set of side effects. The two that affected me the most were hair loss and nausea and vomiting, which I managed with prescribed medication.
Over the course of treatment, I continued to make some changes to my lifestyle. In particular, I lowered my alcohol intake from 3 drinks to just 1 a week, and exercised less regularly.
Another aspect of my life that’s changed since my cancer diagnosis is my relationship with my 2 kids. We don’t spend as much time together as we used to and our yearly family trips are now a thing of the past.
I have some plans for myself and my family. For instance, I plan to be more active. I’d also like to go on a road trip, but I can’t drive for long like I used to so we’ll have to make other arrangements.
I didn’t have any personal dreams, I just wanted to live. As for my family, my son is graduating next year. I wanted to make sure he is finished with his education before anything serious happens to me.
I feared that I might not respond to the treatment. I heard stories of cancer treatments not going very well for some patients. It made me worried and often kept me up at night. To cope with this fear, I prayed to God. I still do to this day. I’m thankful that I’m still alive.
It’s been a while since I was diagnosed with cancer, but I still feel fearful today. I’m worried that the cancer might come back.
Stay positive and pray. It is all about hope, it keeps us going.
This patient's story is published and shared with their full consent. Any personal data that can be used to identify the patient has been omitted.
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