At 49 young years of age, Dee was diagnosed with stage 1B non-small cell lung cancer. In her own words she thought of herself as fit and invincible, but her story is proof that the smoking-related diseases are indiscriminate. They can strike anyone at any time.
By opening up and taking readers along on her personal journey through cancer, Dee not only provides us with a view into how lung cancer changed her life, she gives us tools that can be used to build the resolve we need to break our own chains of addiction.
Dee's story cuts through the rose-tinted view we often have of smoking and forces us to see this addiction for what it is: a ruthless killer. There is no romance in smoking, and cigarettes are not our friends.
Thank you, Dee.
"Every passing minute is a chance to turn it all around" -- a quote from Vanilla Sky (2001).
This is not a unique story; many people have gone down this path before me.
Some are still fighting while others have died, but many have won.
On September 3rd, 2008, I was told that I had lung cancer. The good news was that it was stage 1B which, in medical terms, is not life-threatening; as long as the tumor is removed quickly.
"All tests confirm you have cancer."
My world crashed and burned, my heart stopped, my throat tightened, the tears collected and fell -- and disbelief set in.
At that moment, the people you love and the life you have built flashes in front of you and when those words are spoken you know, deep in the pit of your stomach that everything is going to change. The future, the past and the present get all mixed up in your mind while hours upon hours are spent in hospital waiting rooms taking tests and waiting for doctors to explain results. Past regrets and future dreams play back to back as you look for the strength and hope to fight this crazy disease.
I had already lived the reality of what cancer can do. My father died of liver canceron June 18, 2008. He was a very simple, honest and hard working man. He faced dying with the same quiet courage he faced life. He wanted to die at home without any medical intervention. I still remember how my mother closed his eyes and kissed him tenderly. They where married for 55 years; I could see how her heart was breaking. She lost her husband and best friend. Now she would have another heartache to face -- and so shortly after his burial.
We would both need courage.
I could no longer deny that "I was fine, just tired."
When asked by people why I looked so pale and thin, "Working too hard I guess," was always my answer. The people closest to me saw the subtle changes occurring in both my temperament and body.
All of my doctors reminded me that I was one of the lucky ones. Stage 1 lung cancer is rarely diagnosed because it does not generally cause symptoms in the early stages and goes unnoticed until it has spread. This is why lung cancer is so fatal. It didn't matter who I saw during the testing process, everyone said the same thing -- they were all very interested in finding out what made me seek out medical attention when I did.
In my experience, stage 1 lung cancer has many symptoms which should not be ignored. They can easily be misunderstood and explained simply as stress-related or, if a smoker, smoking-related. I am one of the lucky ones because I did listen to the signals my mind and body were sending. I am hoping that, if you are a smoker, or have been, this story will help you listen to the delicate changes that are happening to your lungs, your body, and your mind, before it becomes too late.
A few years ago I had a riding accident which required surgery and rest. I never really took enough rest time after my surgery and my body started running down. When the body's immune system gets stuck on overdrive, too much stress and exercise can worsen the inflammation response. I developed a nagging persistent cough. For three winters I suffered from bronchitis and just last year, walking pneumonia. Instead of slowing down, I used band-aid solutions and large doses of antibiotics to keep going. I had x-rays done in January of 2006, none in 2007 and the growth was found in September of 2008.
The physiological changes did not happen overnight -- they took time. No one really knows how much time; but there were signs that something was amiss: sallow complexion; difficulty sleeping; weight loss; shortness of breath and wheezing on a regular basis, sometimes just by talking; chest pains when exercising or during deep breathing exercises.
One morning I woke up with a lump on my throat, the size of a golf ball, "enlarged lymph nodes," was the diagnosis "could be a run down immune system." The lump lasted for three days and then it disappeared. But there remained a constant pressure and weight on my chest. All of these symptoms and only stage 1 -- how can this sickness be passing undetected?
I was experiencing all of the classic symptoms of burnout. I had not made my health a priority for a while and my immune system was breaking down due to over-work and worries. Fighting depression and mood swings was also normal; after all I had started smoking again, an old habit that was making me feel very guilty. I am a health care professional and fully understand the addictive trap I had fallen into. I used my father's illness and over-working as the excuse to let myself lose control. Before he died my promise to him was to stop smoking again and this time forever. But it was too late, the damage was done.
As the lung cancer progressed, my anxiety mounted along with more sleepless nights and a recurring nightmare that haunted me during the day. I had no choice but to start paying closer attention to what I was doing and feeling. They say that dreams are either premonitions or reflections of our state of mind. I took this one as a sign of both; this dream kept repeating and I would awake in terror. I have asked many people diagnosed with cancer about this, and most say they've had the same experience -- a recurring dream that would cause deep anxiety. And then one morning I coughed up blood. It was time to visit the doctor and my life has never been the same since.
The tests began. There were CT scans, PET scans, bronchoscope, biopsy and more x-rays. I still remember the day I called home to tell my sister; my sickness now became theirs. I could not get through this alone and the support was unlimited.
On November 12, 2008 I woke up from my second worst nightmare. I'd had alobectomy. The lower lobe of my left lung had been removed along with the tumor. The tumor that was 3 cm in September had grown to 4 cm by November. Tubes were everywhere. There were oxygen tubes to breathe with, tubes in my lungs to help them drain, a catheter, an IV, and a morphine epidural implant for pain control. It took 44 staples to close my wound.
Those days in the hospital are blurred because I had pain issues and needed lots of medication which was causing a reaction. The medication was stopping my body from digesting food and I couldn't eat for 10 days. I turned into a skeleton, my once-fit body was atrophying; I was losing muscle and every movement was an effort. After this type of surgery, patients are encouraged to not lie in bed but take as many walks as possible in order to help the lungs drain properly. I was finding this difficult and extremely painful. I can't imagine going through this major operation not being in reasonably good shape and still smoking. In my ward at the hospital there were people going into this operation who were still smoking. Age, profession and social status mean nothing to this disease. Three quarters of lung cancer deaths occur in people over 65...and here I was, only 49, fit, and, according to me, invincible.
I am, and have always been, an active individual. Over the years I had worked through most of my bad habits and today make my living helping others find optimum health and wellness. I thought my healthy lifestyle would always protect me from any serious illness caused by past evils. I was very wrong.
The statistics on lung cancer are depressing, especially for women. There is an increasing incidence of lung cancer of all stages, even among nonsmokers. I seem to be one of many facing today's cancer epidemic. The latest around-the-world statistics on cancer show that there is one new case every three seconds and one new death every five seconds. Cancer is responsible for the deaths of thousands of people every year, regardless of the progress in surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
The struggle with any harmful addiction is too large a topic for me to attempt. Let my experience be your incentive to quit. This disease is nasty. It puts your life on hold, it strips the joy from your very soul, and it affects everyone who loves you. While you are standing in the freezing cold, or sitting alone in a cold garage having a cigarette and the party is going on inside, remind yourself how silly this all is and that you should quit -- now! Taking preventative measures will stimulate the immune system to its fullest potential which will ward off disease, or, since this disease is indiscriminate, will give you a better fighting chance. Cancer can be thought of as a "tap on the shoulder" by God (or the universe) saying, "the path you are on has become dangerous, consider taking another."
Only three months after my surgery I am back in control. This morning I did a 30-minute workout, heart rate working at 80 percent, and my lungs were just fine. It felt so nice to breathe without pain. I once again practice what I preach and actively seek mental and emotional well being. I am always amazed at how quickly our bodies respond to the right conditioning. This sickness had unknowingly stripped me of joy for many years and once again I am now finding my bliss. I am grateful for another chance and I am indebted to all those people who helped me.
~Dee
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States today, with more people dying from it than of colon, breast and prostate cancers combined. However, it is also the most preventable form of cancer, with upwards of 90% of lung cancer cases being attributable to cigarette smoking. As hard as it is to read accounts like Dee's, for the person who is trying to quit smoking, the dose of reality a real-life story like this provides is a cessation tool like no other.
If you've never smoked, don't start.
If you do smoke, quit now.
Resource: www.verywell.com
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét