Day 22: 12 Years Cancer-Free: Diane’s Inspiring Journey from Stage 3 Lung Cancer to Thriving Health

Video Description

Transforming your health is more fun with friends! Join Chef AJ’s Exclusive Plant-Based Community. Become part of the inner circle and start simplifying plant-based living - with easy recipes and expert health guidance. Find out more by visiting: https://community.chefaj.com/ Disclaimer: This podcast does not provide medical advice. The content of this podcast is provided for informational or educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health issue without consulting your doctor. Always seek medical advice before making any lifestyle changes. Diane's Story: I had no idea I was sick, never mind having lung cancer. There were times when I did feel something was not right with my health, but the doctors thought it was all in my head. So, I just continued living life. On December 9th , 2012, I started to get pains in my chest and felt sick to my stomach. My family thought I was having a heart attack and called 911. I was taken to the emergency room, and it was there after all the tests showing I wasn’t having a heart attack; the doctor informed me that I had a mass in my chest. I cannot find the words to describe how I felt after the ER doctor so nonchalantly gave me the results of the chest x-ray. He then proceeded to give me morphine for the pain and medicine for the nausea. So that was the start of my surreal relationship with lung cancer. After having a PET scan and a CT Guided Biopsy, I was diagnosed with Primary, Thorax Small Cell Lung Cancer Stage, IIIA (T3, N2, M0, G2) Lymph-Vascular Invasion in my upper left lung and given the news on January 15, 2013. On January 31, 2013, I had surgery (Lobectomy) to remove the tumor from my upper left lung. Now the treatments begin to lessen the possibility of cancer recurring in my lungs and keep it from spreading to other parts of my body. My first round of chemotherapy in March 2013 almost killed me. The day after my first treatment I had to be admitted into the hospital because, I was allergic to the chemo drug, cisplatin. I was unable to eat for a week. I was so sick, and my potassium and magnesium level were extremely low. I thought I was going to die. After this incident, I was told there was nothing else they could do for me, so I opted for a second opinion. With the second opinion, I was told that there were other chemo drugs that could be used and that what I had been given previously was one of the strongest chemo drugs and one of the largest doses. For the next 5 months, I underwent Chemotherapy and Radiation treatments and all side effects that go along with it (hair loss, fatigue, pain, nausea, depression etc...).Over the past four ½ almost five years I have had at least twenty scans/x-rays, two biopsy’s, fiducial markers implanted in my chest, multiple pneumothoraces (lungs collapsed), rib fractures, compression fractions in my spine (early onset osteoporosis) from standard Radiation & CyberKnife Radiation treatments. Through all this my family has been my strength. My husband has been there for every doctor’s visit and hospital stay. My children are my motivation to keep going. They keep me positive and moving forward. Believe me there have been many tears and the “what will the next scan show.” The fear never ends. My siblings, all my in-laws and work colleagues have been there to help and support me in any way they can. I am truly blessed. In February 2017, I had a CT scan done of my chest and it showed an enlarging nodular opacity in my right upper lobe at the site of presumed radiation therapy treatment (CyberKnife). My oncologist informed me of the results and stated that we would do another scan in 3 months (wait and see). The CT scan done in May 2017 shows the enlarged nodular opacity in my right upper lung has gotten smaller since the last scan. We must be doing something right! I am truly one of the lucky ones. There are a lot of people who do not survive after being diagnosed with lung cancer. Most lung cancer patients are diagnosed in the later stages of the disease. Please remember: “All you need is a set of lungs to get lung cancer.”  Throughout all the years I found myself following my daughter into a Vegan/Plant Based Food Lifestyle change. It has been 12 years since I was first diagnosed with lung cancer, and I owe my health and wellbeing to the changes ave made in my life and as my Drs say “I don’t want to know what you are doing but just keep doing to it!” Since hat CT scan done in May 2017, all my annual CT scans (2018-2024) have shown no new cancer and at this point I’m considered stable.