Anyone Can Get Lung Cancer

On February 19, 2009 I was diagnosed with Stage 1B Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma in my right lung.  I was 35 years old and had never smoked.

I had the right lower lobe of my lung removed and spent 5 days in the ICU recovering.  The problem that I had was that lung cancer research is severely lacking and no one really knew how I should be treated.  It has always been thought that lung cancer was preventable.  That as long as you don't smoke, you won't get it.  Therefore, treatment research has been focused on other types of cancers.  Well, THEY WERE ALL WRONG!!

Now 60% of newly diagnosed cases are either non-smokers or those that quit many years ago.  It is the NUMBER ONE cancer killer, more than breast, colon, prostate, melanoma, and kidney COMBINED!  And even though lung cancer causes 1 in 3 cancer deaths, it received less than 5% of the funding.  Survival rates today are the same as they were in the 1970s, even with all the medical advances. (Bonnie J. Addario lung cancer foundation)

Because of this lack of research, my oncologist and I were at a loss about what to do.  Being a medical professional, I have access to all kinds of medical journals and research reports.  Both of us did our own literature review and found that there was virtually no research on my particular type of cancer.  It is a rare form, but there are others out there like me.  We found case reports and anecdotes of survival rates but NOTHING on actual treatment.  Because I was stage 1B and treatment for stage 1 is "controversial", along with most case reports suggesting that surgical intervention would be enough and that chemotherapy was ineffective on those who had received it, we decided to simply do surveillance.  For the last year and 4 months I've been seeing him regularly and getting serial CT scans.  So far, I have had NED (no evidence of disease).  But there are others that have not been so lucky.

Jillian was a 22yr old who was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer around the same time I was.  She was an athletic young woman who helped her rowing team accomplish great things.  She also never smoked.  She went to see her doctor because of a simple stomach ache and it was found to have spread to her liver, breasts, and bone.  All without any symptoms.  She went through MULTIPLE rounds of chemotherapy.  On June 24th, 2010 she lost her battle.  While I did not personally know Jill, this could have easily been me. Or you.  Or your best friend.

I have been very interested in joining the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation and WTF? (Where's The Funding) in fighting this disease.  I feel very blessed that my cancer treatment ended after the 5 days in the ICU.  I want others to have a way to fight this disease and win.  Please take a few minutes and watch this video on Jill's life.  You will see why this is such a devastating illness and why we need to fight for more research.

"Just Like Jill" Lung Cancer Research Campaign

Feel free to leave a comment if you would like more information or if you are interested in helping me fight.

I now have a new favorite song.  It is the song playing in the video and has become the theme song for this campaign.  Thanks to Matisyahu for allowing the use of this song.

One Day
sometimes I lay
under the moon
and thank God I’m breathing
then I pray
don’t take me soon
cause I am here for a reason
sometimes in my tears I drown
but I never let it get me down
so when negativity surrounds
I know some day it’ll all turn around
because
all my life I’ve been waiting for
I’ve been praying for
for the people to say
that we don’t wanna fight no more
they’ll be no more wars
and our children will play
one day x6
it’s not about
win or lose
we all lose
when they feed on the souls of the innocent
blood drenched pavement
keep on moving though the waters stay raging
in this maze you can lose your way (your way)
it might drive you crazy but don’t let it faze you no way (no way)
sometimes in my tears I drown
but I never let it get me down
so when negativity surrounds
I know some day it’ll all turn around
because
all my life I’ve been waiting for
I’ve been praying for
for the people to say
that we don’t wanna fight no more
they’ll be no more wars
and our children will play
one day x6
one day this all will change
treat people the same
stop with the violence
down with the hate
one day we’ll all be free
and proud to be
under the same sun
singing songs of freedom like
one day x4
all my life I’ve been waiting for
I’ve been praying for
for the people to say
that we don’t wanna fight no more
they’ll be no more wars
and our children will play
one day x6
ooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!