My Lung Cancer History

My busy, conventional life had a major plot twist in May 2011 when I was diagnosed with lung cancer, and then I had another jolt beginning November 2012, when I had a series of brain metastases in my cerebellum and prefrontal cortex. I am one of those rare characters who are stage IV and getting no treatment, because there is no cancer to treat in my body.

My lung cancer history: I had a bad cough beginning January, 2011, finally had a chest x-ray in April, – found tumor wrapped around my pulmonary artery – approximately 4 cm.  The University of Colorado Anshutz Cancer tumor board, with Dr. Ross Camidge lead oncologist for my case, met and decided I needed to have 2 six-day rounds of cisplatin and etopocide concurrently with radiation over five weeks before a left pneumonectomy on 7/22/11. I had more mop-up chemo with cisplatin and vin something in October of 2011. PET and MRI after all treatment do not show any mets. Conclusion: Stage II Tumor: Grade 4, undifferentiated, Giant Cell, T2a N1Mx.  Mutation: EGFR: Exon 18: p.Gly719Ala, c2156G>C Exon 20: p.Ser768IIe, c.2303G>T

Beginning 11/12 : restaged to IV: Brain mets presented which required two life flights from Riverton, Wyoming to Anshutz Cancer Center in Denver where Dr. Robert Breeze worked to get my brain under control.  (no easy feat!)  two craniotomies in my cerebellum and optical lobe, one major gamma knife surgery on my right pre-frontal cortex.

I had my last gamma knife surgery on 11/13. Now my doctors say my scan and brain MRI results are completely boring because there is nothing to see.

I don’t know why I survived, when so many people who are more deserving of a long life had to leave this Earth due to the killer cancer.  However, I will be forever grateful to all my doctors, nurses, a Northern Arapaho Medicine Man, a Dr. of Chinese medicine and my immense squad of prayer warriors, which is comprised of life-long family, relatives and friends. My husband, sons and birth family made sure I was never alone while undergoing treatment. Thank you all, and may the Universe bestow blessings upon you.