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Since my last entry… I met with my primary Oncologist (who happens to be an extraordinary, cutting –edge, visionary doctor) to review the results from the last CT scan. She explained to me that there is a new medication recently approved that targets a specific gene in cancer, this drug has been very successful, provided a specific gene is present. This breakthrough is really amazing to me because this particular new medication is not dealing with cancer cells anymore but rather with genes. To find out if this particular gene is present in the type of cancer that I have, fibers would have to be taken from the tumors which equates to a “biopsy”. However, because of the location of these tumors and the difficulty getting to them surgery would be most likely the only option (which, in a way, is better than going through the lung with a needle while I am awake). My doctor determined that since the tumors are growing at such a slow rate we have time to consult with a surgeon who specializes on the chest area for his opinion and most likely surgery.

The surgeon wants to do additional testing to determine the best time to perform the surgery, depending on the size of the tumors and their exact location. I will be having a PET scan on Nov. 1st. PET scan will provide the doctors with precise information as to the size and location of the tumors. After surgery, if indeed the specific gene is present, I will just start taking a new oral medication, but if not, I would most likely go through chemo treatments again… 

My body is very healthy otherwise, I’m a little crazy at times but for the most part I feel great!!! Besides from the fact that I have to educate myself so that I may understand doctors, digest all the information and make decisions which can get overwhelming, I’m doing really great! I’m happy, happy and grateful for what I do have. Some days dealing with cancer feels almost too easy, I think I have become desensitized to it all. My struggles are more emotional than anything else and with that being the case; I would rather feel pain in my heart because I love and care, than nothing at all, it’s all worth it! As I mentioned once before, the hardest part has always been accepting the facts, once I do, the rest is pretty easy…. I now feel that I am in great hands, both the doctors’ and most importantly God’s.

Lung cancer accounts for the most cancer-related deaths in both men and women. More people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. Survival rate for someone in my condition is less than 10%. Having said that, the simple fact that I am still here as health as anyone else, and feeling physically great, gives me every reason to be nothing but grateful and enjoy life to the fullest each and every day. And that, I do every single day!!! 