smitty471

Wow...Thanks everyone for all the replys and information. It's just nice to know you feel like "someone" else out there understands. I'm finally getting around to post my history.... Thanks again everyone for the feedback.....We WILL win this ugly battle.....together _____________________ Female - 47 years old - life long non-smoker, no second hand smoke or history of cancer 12/26/06 - seizure - no known cause - neurologist says "can't find a reason for the seizure, but did anyone talk about the mass in your lung?" 1/07 - biopsy - radiologist stated it was TB - two days later was called and informed it was lung cancer - NSCLC Adenocarcinoma 2/07 - left upper lobectomy w/ removal of two lymph nodes 3/07 - chemo port put in 3/07 - 7/07 chemo - cisplatin/taxotere 5 every 21 day treatments 10/07 - chemo port removed (got to out patient facility and was told I couldn't have the surgery as pregnancy test previous day came back positive....go figure....false test 10/09 - lap band surgery scheduled (ballooned after the chemo). Was doing pre-op for surgery and chest xray revealed another mass 11/09 - thoractomy - 3 lymph nodes, same side, stage 3 1/10 - chemo started again - 4 treatments every 21 days, 1/10 - radiation started 33 daily treatments 5 days /week 3/10 - CAT scan clear 6/10 - CAT scan clear 9/10 - PET scan clear (shoulder pain was thought to be bone cancer, but turned out to be bone spurs) 11/10 - CAT scan - awaiting on results

This has been an amazing journey through this "cancer thing." I will say it has changed me as a person. I have more patience, I "don't sweat the small stuff" and I have a better appreciation for things. Everytime I go through something else because of the cancer or the treatments....my motto is "its a small price to pay." Sometime soon I will post my "history with this disease" some of it is rather comical. (those of us who are women and in their late 40's will get a laugh) Thank you to all who have shared your stories with me. Sometimes it's just really nice to know your not the only one. I am going to participate in a lung cancer walk mid November here in the Dallas Fort Worth, Texas area. I am so excited.

In 2007, I was a 47 year old female who had never smoked. Never been around 2nd hand smoke or had any history of cancer in my family whatsoever. I work in a government office. I was blessed that the NSCLC Adenocarcinoma was caught early. Underwent left upper lobectomy, removal of 2 lymph nodes, and 5 sessions of chemo. (carboplatin/taxotere) I thought I was done. I had the port removed and well on my way to my "normal other life". A little more than two years later (October 2009)...it was back. Once again, it was caught early...more surgery, more chemo, plus 33 radiation treatments. Wow what an ordeal. I continued to work full time through all the chemo and radiation treatments. I WILL win this battle. Does anyone after all the treatments still feel like there "not themselves?" I seem to tire more easily, don't have the energy I think I should or certainly feel like I have short term memory issues. How long does all this last? I have researched on the internet to know that you are still affected by these things, but what I couldn't find is it for the rest of my life? I pray everyday that they will find a cure to this dreadful disease.