In September of 2006 I was doing volunteer work at a local prison and went in for an x-ray for a standard TB test; they saw a shadow on my left lung.
Over the next year they did a few CT scans, and then a PET scan. The spot on my lung was not hot, but they said I had a lymph node that was warm. They then brought me in for a bronscospy, but were unable to biopsy the lymph node during that procedure; the fluid around the lymph node was negative for cancer.
They wanted me to have another PET scan in a few months, it was now hot and I was referred to a doctor in Santa Clara.
I have another procedure, similar to the last and while going through my lung they found a tumor. I was diagnosed with non small cell (Adeno) . The tumor is contained inside the bronchus tube of my upper right lobe.
I had the needle biopsy done in July, 2009 on my left lung and they found cancer in the apex region. Cancer was now confirmed to be in both lungs and that would rule out surgery.
Since June of 2009 I have had 15 treatments of radiation, six cycles of Taxol, Carbo and Avastin, and then the cancer spread to my liver. I then did six cycles of Genzar along with Tarceva. My liver CT scan came back clean after three cycles of Genzar and my lungs were stable. I have been on 150 mg of Tarceva since 1-23-2010, my last CT scan was 12-26-2012 and I am still stable.
ABC News Story Don & Penny
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/couple-share-lung-cancer-undying-love/story?id=17231220
