Steve was pleased that the three months of chemotherapy did not cause him to miss even a day of work, although, he admits, “I did lose what hair I had.”
For Steve, the more troubling side effect was weight gain. To lose pounds, he began to walk, jog and cycle a little.
Meanwhile, chemotherapy shrank the tumor — dramatically. The new X-rays were stunning. To the untrained eye, the tumor had vanished, prompting Steve to ask if he might skip surgery altogether. When his doctors advised him this was not a medical option, Steve allowed his wish to become a prayer.
That afternoon, after running an errand, Steve was struck by a message stamped on his sales receipt: Don’t miss out on a blessing just because you don’t like the way it’s packaged. Steve realized he was ready for surgery.
In August 2002, Dr. Dorheim removed the upper lobe of Steve’s left lung and a lymph node. Steve and Nancy were thrilled to learn that the cancer had not metastasized.
Steve was eager to recover, reduce his weight and rebuild his strength. Walking a bit further each day, he pressed his doctors to allow him to exercise even more. When Steve finally climbed on the bike, his first post-surgical ride was no more than six blocks long. It felt like a
victory lap. |
Today, Steve and Nancy are avid cyclists who ride up to 40 miles at a time. Steve has lost nearly 60 pounds, and he revels in his improved health. Because he knows firsthand what tobacco can do, he cautions others about the very real dangers of smoking.
“It feels good to be able to breathe, get a good workout and really enjoy the outdoors,” says Steve. He has taken up golf, and he and Nancy have a new outlook on life.
“We don’t sweat the small stuff,” Nancy explains, “and we treasure all
the days.”
“Being diagnosed with lung cancer has turned out to be a blessing,” Steve says. “I’ve been given a second chance, and we’re choosing to live life in a whole new way.”
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November Is
Lung Cancer Awareness Month
Early Detection Begins with “Lung Look Test”
Lung cancer kills more than 160,000 Americans each year, making it the leading cause of cancer deaths for men and women. Nearly 90 percent of all lung cancer deaths can be attributed to tobacco use.
Early detection and treatment, so critical to surviving lung cancer, can be challenging because most people with early stage lung cancer are symptom-free. That is why the Methodist Lung/Thoracic Oncology Clinic introduced the convenient, affordable “Lung Look Test” to the Omaha area in 2000. This low-dose CT chest scan of both lungs can detect lung cancer much earlier than conventional X-rays, and it takes just minutes to perform. Comprehensive analysis and treatment are available in coordination with a patient’s primary care physician.
In 2006, Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center joined the I-ELCAP (International Early Lung Cancer Action Program) screening program, collaborating with 26 cancer research facilities to advance the knowledge of early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.
For more information on the Lung Look Test, call Deb Meyers, RN, program manager of the Methodist Lung/Thoracic Oncology Clinic, at (402) 354-5882. |
