I am a mother of two beautiful girls, Megan (29) and Madison (25). I had always been a person that exercises regularly. Over the past several months I found it difficult to climb stairs and go for a nice walk (or hike). I just thought that since I had taken some time off from the gym, I was really out of shape!
In November for the Thanksgiving holiday, I was on a camping trip with my fabulous boyfriend, Adam in Southern Ohio. We went for a 4 mile hike. It was really difficult for me to keep up! I hadn't experienced that before. I was used to being the one in the front, at the top of the hill waiting for everyone else. That evening I was in a lot of pain and was coughing like crazy. The next day, after visiting family in the area, I went to urgent care. An X-ray revealed I had pneumonia.
The urgent care facility gave me a prescription for an antibiotic, an inhaler, a shot of an antibiotic and a shot of steroids. The next day I felt a lot better. As a few days went by, I noticed I wasn't feeling better any more, I was feeling worse. I went to my family physician (a FANTASTIC MAN and friend), he believed the antibiotic they had prescribed for me in Southern Ohio wasn't adequate, and gave me a much stronger one. In a few days, I felt better.
Well, after completing the round of antibiotics, after a few days, I felt bad again. Doc ordered my X-ray from the urgent care facility and had me have another x-ray for comparison. Something was off. He ordered a CT scan. It has been a blur since. Everything happened so fast.
I had my CT scan on Thursday, December 22nd. Doc called and asked me to come to his office that day. I did. He had sent my CT scan results to a Pulmonary doctor, and the next day, December 23rd, I learned the CT scan revealed 2 masses in my right lung and also showed some lymph nodes that were suspicious.
I was supposed to leave December 24th for a cross country road trip to visit my oldest daughter in California. The doctors encouraged me to continue with my plan and go on my trip. So, I did. Adam and I returned to Ohio on January 8th, 2017. The following Wednesday, January 11th, I had a biopsy. They took 2 lymph nodes, and did a bronchoscopy. Friday the 13th (I know, right??), I received the word that, yes, I do have lung cancer... Stage 4. It has spread to my adrenal glands, lymph nodes and brain.
