Anna’s story – lung cancer

Anna was 50 years old and had smoked cigarettes for thirty years. After a horrible bout of bronchitis that involved a stay in hospital Anna decided it was time to quit smoking. During the stay in hospital x-rays had been taken of her lungs and nothing unusual was spotted. Anna successfully stopped smoking and although she gained a little weight she started running and felt really healthy.

A few years after the bronchitis Anna started to feel unwell again. Her body felt heavy and she found it difficult to keep running. She put it down to a bad back that she had been suffering with. However one evening after a visit to the chiropractor Anna coughed up blood. She knew this was a bad sign and immediately went to the doctor.

Anna was referred to the hospital for different tests to find out what was wrong with her. After weeks of waiting it was confirmed that she had non small cell lung cancer. Luckily the cancer appeared to be in the early stages and the prognosis was hopeful. Surgery was recommended as the best way of treating the cancer. The tumour was in the upper quarter of her right lung. This was very close to a major artery and lymph glands and there was a danger that the cancer could have easily spread. She would only know the full diagnosis after surgery.

The surgery was performed three weeks after Anna’s initial diagnosis. The upper right lobe of her lung was removed as well as part of a rib. Three days after the operation Anna was up and walking. On day four the test results came back. Luckily the cancer had not spread and all of the cancerous tumour in the lung had been removed.

Anna knew she had been lucky, if the cancer had been found any later she would not have been so fortunate. Anna didn’t need any chemotherapy or radiation and one week after surgery she was released from hospital. Recovering from major surgery was difficult, she was sore and weak and had lost her appetite. She felt depressed for the first few weeks after going home, the shock and speed at which everything had happened had taken its toil. However her husband was great throughout her recovery and took time off work to nurse her back to health. It was important that she was looked after so she could regain her strength and recover quicker.

Anna had her first check up one month after surgery. She was terrified that the tests would show that something else was wrong. However she didn’t have to worry, she was given a thorough examination and everything looked healthily. An x-ray of the lungs was taken and the surgeon showed Anna the picture. The lungs looked fine and the surgery scar was healing well.

Anna is now seven months out of surgery and feeling stronger every day. She still doesn’t feel like herself but other survivors have told her it takes at least 12 months to feel back to normal. She attended her six month check up and all the tests came back clear. Anna is taking light exercise to help make her lungs stronger and to improve her fitness levels gradually. Anna feels like she has been given a second chance at life and intends to make the most of it.