The Day My Life Changed

Went in to local off hour medical center to determine why I was having tightness in my chest and having difficulty catching a deep breathe periodically.  Dr’s performed an EKG and chest x-ray.  X-ray showed as abnormal with a left lung mass.  The Dr. asked me if I had ever smoked and I replied that I never had and he looked puzzled and then he ordered a CT of the chest with contrast using 75 ml of Isovue 300 administered intravenously.  Helical axial acquisitions through the chest with sagittal and coronal 2D reconstructions.  CT scan done according to ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable).
The findings were as follows:  There was a 3.6 x 3.2 x 2.5 cm mass in the posterior medial left upper lobe.  The mass demonstrated an irregular lobulated contour with mild speculation.  No additional pulmonary nodule was identified.  There was a small calcified granuloma in the medial right lung base.  There was no consolidation or pleural effusion.  There were no enlarged mediastinal, hilar or axillary lymph nodes.  The mediastinum was otherwise unremarkable.  The thoracic aorta demonstrated no aneurysmal dilatation. 
The impression was a 3.6 cm irregular mass in the upper left lobe concerning for primary lung neoplasm.  Further evaluation was recommended. 

I knew it wasn't good when the Dr. walked in with his head down and didn't say anything until he sat down beside me.  He just looked up with saddened eyes and said, "Buddy, I don't have good news for you!!  The scan shows all signs of you having lung cancer!"  CANCER.........My mind froze and time stopped.  I had so many questions and thoughts that I didn't know where to begin:
How much time do I have?  How can I have cancer because I am in great health?  I can't have cancer because I have to get back to work and help my daughter with college.  I can't have cancer because I have to help my son move to Michigan for his new job. I can't have cancer because I am only 52 and I am way too young to die!!  That last thought hit me like a ton of bricks and I came out of my trance.  I looked over at my daughter and I asked the Dr. where we went from here because I was going to beat this!!!  No more time for negative thinking.... only positive thoughts and loving thoughts from here on out.  He referred me to an oncologist in Valparaiso, IN the next day but I knew I was contacting the University of Chicago or Cancer Treatment Centers for a second opinion.  That night I said a very long prayer and I asked God to give me and my family the strength and courage to get through these trying times and to help me so that I can help others that may need hope or inspiration from my story.  I say it like that because God and I have an understanding that he is going to help me beat this cancer and I promised him that I was going to live my life being happy and doing what I can to be an inspiration to others.  As I stated earlier, these are my beliefs and what has worked for me and as you read further into my story, I hope you are as awe inspired as I have been with the power of friends' and family's prayers and my own prayers that have come true.  I have been truly blessed.