Surviving lung cancer

What does lung cancer feel like?

For me, it didn't feel like anything. I had no symptoms. I felt perfectly healthy. The problem was discovered in spring of 1990 when I was having pre-operation tests for an unrelated problem. A routine chest X-ray showed a shadow on the left lobe of the lung.

What health care did you require?

Within a couple of weeks I was admitted to hospital for a biopsy. Once there, the surgeon decided to proceed with a general operation during the course of which he removed the upper half of the left lobe of the lung. The tissue was malignant. I did not require any further treatment - radiation or chemotherapy. For the next five years I had chest X-rays every six months.

What were the side-effects of the surgery?

The initial side effect was shortness of breath, but that improved with regular exercise such as walking. I subsequently took a walking holiday in Britain and only had difficulty at higher altitudes.

Did you smoke?

I was a smoker at the time — had been since 1957. At least a pack a day, and generally more like a pack-and-a-half.

Once I had recovered from the surgery and got back to work, I started smoking again!

From 1990 to 2000 I made a few half-hearted attempts to quit, using the patch and hypnosis. The problem was I didn't want to quit.

Then in January 2001, I was scheduled for a bladder repair operation. The urologist said I had to quit smoking immediately because he did not think I would be able to tolerate general anesthetic.

That got my attention.

I began a course of Wellbutrin, a medication to help curb cigarette cravings. Within a week I had quit smoking and have never smoked again. So far — though I still often feel like a friend has gone missing.

Why did you need a second lung surgery?

At the same time I went through the pre-operation routine tests for the bladder surgery, an X-ray revealed spots/shadows on my lung. The bladder surgery was cancelled and I once again had lung surgery. Most of what remained of the left lobe was removed but this time the tissue proved to be benign.

Was there any history of lung cancer?

There was no family history of lung cancer.

How has your life changed?

My husband and I are now both non-smokers--though we still enjoy the smell of second-hand smoke!

We are grateful for my good fortune, which came in spite of my stupidity in continuing to smoke after the first scare. In the spring of 2004, we took a long-awaited canal boat holiday in England. It was an expensive venture and we paid for it almost entirely with the money we saved in not smoking. That gave us a real feeling of accomplishment.

Physically I am in good health and I'm emotionally OK, too. The memory of the fear I felt at the time has faded.

How can family or friends help?

Just be there. If you have to nag, scold or blame, do it where I can't hear you. And don't shift responsibility to the tobacco companies as a means of giving me comfort. I did this to myself with full knowledge of the possible consequences. If you smoke you are at risk. I dodged two bullets. You may not be as lucky.