“I Just Want Peace.” An Update on My Mom’s Lung Cancer Battle

Well, it’s been awhile since I have updated my Lung Cancer journey.

I just spent overnight in the hospital recently due to a blood clot. This is a scary thing. Just after a dental appointment where there was quite a bit of drilling on the bottom tooth, I started getting neck pain. It was very tender to the touch. I went to see my radiation oncologist Dr. Ashman to see if it could have anything to do with the radiation I had on that side of my neck and he didn’t seem to think so and felt nothing in my neck at the time.

Also went to a fill-in primary care doctor who showed no interest in checking out what I was in there for. I told him my hand was turning blue and then I started getting broken blood vessels starting at my neck following a line down to my arm. Enough of him!! My oncologist sent me to a cardio-vascular doctor who ordered an ultra sound the next day. After the results, he put me in the hospital right away. They started me on Heparin IV. I gave myself shots of Lovenox in my stomach for about 4 days and taking Coumadin. The blood is starting to get to the level where it should be. I think I will be on Coumadin for at least 6 months.

On the other hand, I do still have a nodule in my neck that they are not sure about, so this may involve a biopsy. I should be hearing about this at the beginning of next week. If it is active, not sure what the treatment would be. There were different things prescribed.

So, I have been full of emotions and that affects you physically as well. It seems every time I get a fairly good report, something else pops up that I have to deal with. My mind never seems to be at peace and peace is what I want so badly.

I’ve done pretty good throughout the years. I never said “why me” or things like that, but each time I get something added to the Lung Cancer then I guess I go into a “Pity Party” of my own. Why am I getting all this and so many others are not having any problems? Please don’t mistake what I am saying. I don’t wish this on anyone and am happy that they have a life, but I guess the envy in me takes over and I can’t help but feel all the frustration that I feel.

I still endure the chronic pain that started from the botched epidural when I had the wedge resection. I’ve been to many pain management clinics to no avail. Dealing with this pain nonstop drags you down both mentally and physically. I cannot go back and change the past, but if I knew now what I didn’t know then, things would have turned out so differently.

I would first of all suggest anyone who has a cancer diagnosis should right away go to a comprehensive cancer center. They work as a team and have all your records together. It takes a lot of stress off your mind. You still have to be your own advocate and If you feel uncomfortable about what a doctor says, then you should question him/her more or get a second opinion. It took me some time to realize this, but through my daughter’s insistence about being my own advocate, it started to soak in. I then started with the Mayo Clinic and things were much better…..not perfect, but better.

Also, when I had my results on January 6th……it sounded like a good report, but they didn’t realize that the neck was included and that’s when all this other took place. I was so hoping that everything was okay so that I could make a trip back to Nebraska. My 87 year old Mother had to be put into a nursing home and this has upset me so much. Thank you to my sister for doing all that she is doing. Besides wanting to be of help that I was able to do, I wanted to see my Mother. Well, that has been put on hold.

I know that some of these issues that show up are most likely due to chemo and radiation. It’s such a shame that this poison that is put in our bodies destroy the good cells, but since it is poison, naturally it would. I tend to get on my soap box from time to time and vent about the things that truly upset me. That happens to be the injustice that the Lung Cancer community has dealt with for so long. They attached the stigma of smoking so that it is the least funded cancer although it is the number one cancer killer of all the major cancers combined. Who cares if you smoked, no one deserves to dies. If you have lungs, you can get Lung Cancer. It is not just related to smoking. There are many other reasons and is affecting our military so much as well.

Right now more than 60% of newly diagnosed patients have never smoked or quit decades ago. Young children, young adults and especially women who have never smoked are getting this. It has turned into an epidemic. So, doesn’t that make sense that the number one cancer killer deserves more attention??? The Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act has to be passed and more federal funding be given where it is due….Lung Cancer. It should be at the top of the priority list.

Headed to Mom's high school classmate's funeral. She died of lung cancer.

My daughter has been a great advocate and started the “WTF? (Where’s the Funding for Lung Cancer?”) campaign. This could be offensive to some, but it gets attention and she had done very well. She was invited by the Lung Cancer Alliance to go to Washington DC for its Capitol Forum, where advocates from across the country gather on the Hill to tell Congress that lung cancer must be a national public health priority. As far as I’m concerned, this is a no brainer and the right thing should be done.

I get so sad when I read on one of the Lung Cancer support groups I’m with when people are desperately looking for something that will help them or their loved one. There are numerous reports, etc. out there giving hope only to say that it will takes years for human trials…or maybe you never hear of it again. It’s like dangling candy on a string in front of you and then yanking it away.

I have to admit that there are days in my life when I feel like my time is near. Through most of the almost 6 years, I have tried not to dwell on things like that. I guess I’m very sad and angered that our country can turn into such power and greed and not the well being of it’s citizens. Even though it’s nearly impossible to fight against power such as these groups have, we will never quit fighting for our cause…..Lung Cancer!!

Leslie Lehrman

Related posts:

1. UPDATE: WTFLungCancer A Finalist in Mashable Awards! Vote! This Time We WANT Lung Cancer to Win!