Jeri’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Lung Cancer)

A year ago, when I started coughing nonstop, I never dreamed I’d be diagnosed with lung cancer. I thought I was having allergy problems. I went to my allergy doctor every couple of weeks getting inhalers, antibiotics, and taking breathing test, with no results.

I couldn’t understand why I was so tired. I remember telling my husband I didn’t think I could make it all day at work! He said maybe you should get a second opinion. By then I had lost 25 lbs, and any desire to do anything but lay on the couch.

I went to my family doctor, told them my symptoms, and he ordered a chest X-ray. The doctor said my tumor was as large as a softball. Telling my family was hard, each one I told  (my husband told them, I couldn’t get the words out myself, besides all that coughing left me without much of a voice) seemed to be in disbelief.

After what seemed like endless tests, I started on my treatment plan. I had surgery to remove the tumor, then chemo, and radiation. Afterwards I found out I also had thyroid cancer. I had to have more surgery to remove my thyroid. I recently had my first PET scan since treatments, so far no new cancer, things are looking up!

After six months off I’m back to work and trying to regain my energy level. Without the support of my family, I don’t know how I could have made it through this. I saw a side of my husband I’d never seen before. Writing this story seemed to be a little more than I really wanted everyone to know, but then I realized I had a chance to tell people to be persistent with your doctors. When you know something isn’t right, go with your feelings and keep going till you find out why.

Jeri H
Michigan
Submitted 6-4-2013

The informational content of this article is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.

This article is intended to convey general educational information and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.