The Power of Positivity and Support

It's been a week now since I was diagnosed with lung cancer and I wanted to thank everyone that visited my
blog post last Wednesday, as well as thank those that have sent me personal messages and emails. I feel so fortunate for all the love and support I am receiving. It truly makes such a big difference.

Also I thought it would be easier to post the occasional update here rather than contact everyone individually.

I'll start from the beginning.

August 31st I went to emergency as I was having a lot of pain on the right side of my neck along with some swelling. At first I thought it was only a stiff neck, but after two weeks it was beginning to swell. The doctor in emergency asked about my past medical history and when I told him that I was a 22 year breast cancer survivor he told me it could be lung cancer. At the time I thought what a terrible bedside manner this guy has. He in turn sent me to an ears nose and throat specialist who did a needle biopsy of the swollen lymph nodes in my neck, along with other tests. He asked me if I wanted to follow up with my family doctor and I said NO!

My family doctor has misdiagnosed me, and my husband too many times in the past. Long story but in the city where I live, there has been a family doctor shortage for many years, otherwise I would have changed doctors a long time ago.

Anyways the ENT specialist then said to me that he'd refer me to a group of doctors at the Stronach Regional Cancer Centre in Newmarket.

A month after first seeing the emergency room doctor I saw a thoracic surgeon last Monday who told me I had inoperable lung cancer. That same day I spoke with the Radiology Oncologist. The first thing he wanted to do was to see if they could get the swelling down in my neck to alleviate some of the pain. Last Thursday I started radiation and have had 3 treatments so far. I have two left to go; today and Wednesday.

I don't know as of yet what stage of cancer I have. My next step is to meet with a Chemotherapy Oncologist.

An MRI has been ordered and I'm still waiting to find out when that will be.

The fight continues and I fully intend to keep on going for many years to come.

Again thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart. You all mean more to me than you'll ever know.