A Year in the Life of a Lung Cancer Survivor – start from the beginning here and bookmark our blog as we chronicle Jeff’s experience in bite size blogs posted once a week.
“According to the notes I’ve kept scribbled on a pad by my desk, it’s been a year now. One year as a lung cancer survivor and I’m still kicking. I’m pleased to be here and glad to be offered the chance to share some of the events from my experience with lung cancer.”
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August 2, 2013: We had enjoyed a wonderful vacation day, leaving the hotel early to make our northbound swing through New Hampshire, over to Vermont and back east to Maine to celebrate my wife’s birthday with a fresh lobster dinner on the Atlantic coast. It was about 3:00 PM and we were headed north on I-95, almost to cross the state line into Maine when my phone rang. Looking at the screen, I was puzzled to see the name of my doctor. Answering the call, I heard the familiar voice of his nurse who apologized for disturbing my vacation, but quickly told me that the radiologist had seen something on my X-ray that they wanted to get a better look at. “I’ve made you an appointment to get a CT scan.” she explained, as I motioned for my wife to get out a pen and something to write on.
“Wednesday, August 7th.” I repeated, “I’ll be there.”
I didn’t want to make a fuss and dampen the spirits of my wife and son, especially on her birthday, so I said something about them wanting to do the CT scan to try and figure out what was causing the cough and it was nothing to worry about. We continued on to enjoy seeing the Nubble Lighthouse and had a delicious dinner at Fox’s Lobster House in York, Maine. On the way back to the hotel, we watched the sun set as we walked along the beach and my son, Josh, waded in the cool ocean waters, but in the back of my mind was that “something” that they wanted to get a better look at.
August 7, 2013: I was hungry, thirsty and nervous, as they started the IV line to run the contrast fluid into me so they could get a better look at that “something”. I had done my part; fasting prior to the test, showing up on time, listening to the lady at the registration desk explain the amount of money that I needed to pay up front to cover my portion of the scan and now, here I was stretching out on a long table, putting my arms above my head and waiting for further instructions as the table slid back and forth in what looked like a giant plastic donut. “Just lie still and breathe normally.” the nice voice behind the window said. In a few minutes, the scan was done.
“Could you see anything abnormal?” I asked, hoping for a laugh and some reassurance.
“The radiologist will look it over and let your doctor know.” she replied, sounding like someone reading from a script. I called Diane as I drove back to the office, explaining that everything went fine and the doctor should let me know something tomorrow.
I had just came into the house after work when my phone rang, again showing the number for my family doctor. I walked over next to my wife as I answered the call. It was the same nurse that had called me five days prior. She explained that my doctor was on vacation, but one of his associates had received the results of the CT scan and wanted me to come in to go over them first thing in the morning. We confirmed the appointment for 7:30 AM and it was only after I hung up the phone that I realized that their office didn’t normally open until 8:00 AM.
I remember thinking that can’t be a good sign…
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