2 Years Surviving
It has been two years since my first diagnosis of Stage IV Non-Small Cell Adenocarcinoma Lung Cancer with EGFR Mutation and I am feeling fantastic. No changes are showing on my scan and my blood work is fantastic. I am still taking 100 mg of Tarceva every night at 9:30 P.M. but that is my only medication. It is so important to drink plenty of water everyday. When I get complacent with drinking water, I can feel a difference inside my body. I feel like my skin is dry, my eyes are dry and my hair is brittle, plus I don't feel as healthy as I do when I drink 6-8 sixteen ounces or more of water daily.
It's summertime and it is easy to eat food from festivals and pizza because you are so busy, but I try to eat a great healthy meal at least 4 times a week as opposed to a so-so healthy meal. I have not been exercising as much because I am going to have to go in for toe joint replacement soon. I have bone spurs and cartilage damage in both of my big toes and I am having issues walking without pain. This is not a side effect of the medication. It is years of wear and tear and now repairs are desperately needed because it is effecting my knees and feet and hips.
Summer months are the times that I feel my complete best. I wake up every morning and take in a giant deep breath and thank God for another wonderful day of living. It's amazing how much I pay attention to my breathing and I how thankful I am for being able to breathe deeply everyday. I miss running but that will change after my foot surgery, I hope.
I am still dedicated to playing in my band, Duneside Classic Rewind, with my son and I also play acoustically with my son and occasionally my daughter around the area and at festivals. I am looking into starting a benefit in November for Lung Cancer Awareness month and would like to be able to provide a benefit with music and donations to help research into this disease. I have been truly blessed with numerous miracles and the love and prayers from so many friends and family that have been by my side and it is my continued prayers that I may be of help and inspiration to those who need it.
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and I hope that you will share it with others that may be going through similar circumstances or who may just need to hear a story about something good happening in the world.
For those of you who are following my medical reports, my scan on August 8 had the following results:
Narrative
CT CHEST AND UPPER ABD W, 8/8/2018 11:31 AM
CLINICAL INFORMATION: Lung cancer, follow-up
TECHNIQUE: Contrast enhanced chest and contrast enhanced abdomen CT. 120 mL of Omnipaque
350 contrast material were administered intravenously. Multiplanar reconstructions,
including MIP, MINIP and Slab images were reviewed.
COMPARISON: 5/9/2018
FINDINGS:
CHEST:
LUNGS AND PLEURA: The referenced left hilar focal changes appears grossly similar in
overall size. Specifically the reference measurement and solid component remains 18 x 8 mm
(image 37 series 207) when measured in a similar fashion. Comparison prior images however
is also unchanged given mild differences in gantry angle over multiple prior exams.
Surrounding regional areas of fibrosis and architectural distortion or similar likely
radiation related.
No additional airspace abnormalities observed, specifically no nodular or focal masses
observed in the opposite lung or lung bases. No effusions
MEDIASTINUM AND HILA: No lymphadenopathy. Calcified paraesophageal lymph nodes are
unchanged
Cardiac and pericardium are within limits
Small hiatal hernia
CORONARY ARTERY CALCIFICATION: Mild.
CHEST WALL: Gynecomastia is again observed without additional osseous abnormalities
ABDOMEN: Absence of enteric contrast material limits sensitivity for abdominal pathology.
LIVER, BILIARY TRACT: Granuloma unchanged
SPLEEN: Nonspecific hypodensities and presumably a splenic cyst unchanged
ADRENAL GLANDS: No significant abnormality noted.
KIDNEYS, URETERS: Renal cyst unchanged
PANCREAS: No significant abnormality noted.
RETROPERITONEUM, LYMPH NODES: No significant abnormality noted.
BOWEL, MESENTERY: Absence of enteric contrast material limits sensitivity for GI
pathology.
No gross abnormalities noted.
BONES, SOFT TISSUES: No significant abnormality noted.
OTHER: No significant abnormality noted.
IMPRESSION: Essentially stable appearing left hilar findings representing presumed
scarring and post radiation change. Please note multiple comparisons were performed over
prior CTs extending back to 2017
