Featured Survivors - Lung Cancer

Second opinion gave peace of mind to lung cancer survivor

Name: Jeanie Dallas Age: 60 Hometown: Lincolnwood, Illinois Type of cancer: Non-small cell lung cancer Date of diagnosis:1997 Stage at diagnosis: Early stage Current date: June, 2009 Current status: Disease free since 1997

1. How was your health when you were diagnosed?
Excellent. I was exercising every day, didn’t smoke and never had any symptoms.

2. Where were you initially diagnosed?
I was diagnosed at a suburban hospital outside Chicago, IL.

3. What treatment was initially recommended?
My local doctor recommended that I have radiation and chemotherapy, and depending on how much the cancer shrunk, I could have surgery. So I went through six months of treatment. It wasn’t pleasant, but what chemotherapy is? You deal with it.

I had heard that my case was unusual because they weren’t sure if my tumor was attached or engulfed in the subclavian artery. When my doctor started talking about the surgery, he said I might have to be in the hospital for two weeks, and that didn’t sit right with me, so three days before the surgery I called and cancelled. I wanted a second opinion.

4. Did you get a 2nd or 3rd opinion? If so, where?
Yes, at the University of Chicago. I did not get a 3rd opinion. I was completely satisfied with the second opinion.

5. What treatment was recommended with the 2nd or 3rd opinion?
I made an appointment with Dr. Mark K. Ferguson, Professor of Surgery at the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he is a specialist in thoracic surgery. When I met him, he blew me away. He wasn’t arrogant, but he was confident and there’s a difference. I was intelligent enough to realize that this was the no-nonsense doctor I needed.

He told me he wanted me off all the other treatments and needed to operate as quickly as possible. I asked him if he could “get this baby out of me without popping my artery.” He looked at my tests and said, “I’ll get this.” And he did.

I had received my chemo and radiation at the suburban hospital where I was diagnosed, and was so over radiated that my tumor was stuck to my chest wall. This was quite a challenge for Dr. Ferguson when he did the surgery.

It was such a relief to me that I found someone I felt safe with for the surgery. That’s so important. My first doctor was such a nice man, but I just didn’t think he had the experience for the type of problem I had.

6. Did you try alternative treatments outside of your doctor's
No.

7. Do you engage in any other homeopathic remedies or treatments?
No.

8. Did you change your diet? How is it different from before your diagnosis?
No..I have always been a healthy eater.

9. Did you change your exercise program? How is it different from before your diagnosis?
The same……I always exercise.

10. Do you take any nutritional supplements? If so, what do you take?
Yes…..Multi Vitamin, E, Calcium, Green Tea Extract, Garlic, K2 and Bone-Up

11. Are you currently considered to be disease free?
Yes.

12. How long have you been disease free?
12 years

13. What are you doing to stay disease free?
Meditate, exercise, and eat right.

14. What do you think is the most important thing you did to combat your cancer?
Positive attitude, fantastic physician and I was blessed!

For anyone with cancer, I would say, be strong. It isn’t the end of the world and doesn’t have to be the end of your life. Find things you like to do. My motto is there is going to be something there for you to enjoy. The more you exercise and move around, the better you’ll feel, and as you grow older, you’ll be healthier. Fight for your life and don’t ever give up.

15. Are you willing to have a newly diagnosed patient contact you?
Yes.

16. Brief Additional Narrative
Having the support you need along with hope and a positive attitude is essential. For me personally, I had, and still have, enormous faith and ask God for help everyday of my life.

Specialized Care and a Positive Attitude Inspired by Fellow Lung Cancer Survivor’s Experience

Name: Sandra Hornung Age: 64 Hometown: Olathe, Kansas Type of cancer: Lung Cancer (non-small cell - adenocarcinoma) Date of diagnosis:1982 Stage at diagnosis: 3a Current date July 2009 Current status: Cancer Free

1. How was your health when you were diagnosed?
Okay. I was under a lot of stress.

2. Where were you initially diagnosed?
I was going through tests in Kansas City but they were inconclusive.<

3. What treatment was initially recommended (include facility name and location, doctor's name, pharmaceuticals, surgeries, etc.)?
My husband and I had read an article by Richard Bloch, so we decided to go to M.D. Anderson where I went through further tests. It was recommended that I have surgery, and then chemo /radiation simultaneously. (Radiation during the week and chemotherapy on the weekend.)

I first had surgery (thoracotomy) to remove the upper tip of my right lung. My surgeon was Dr. William McMurtry. Next, my chemotherapy consisted of cytoxan, cisplatin and adriamycin, and my oncologist was Dr. William (Bill) Murphy. I had five weeks of radiation twice a day. My radiation oncologist was Dr. Arthur D. Hamberger.

4. Did you get a 2nd opinion?
No

5. Which treatment protocol did you choose and for what reason?
I chose what was recommended by my panel of doctors.

6. Did you participate in a Clinical Trial?
I came up for a clinical trial…radiation to the brain. My oncologist recommended I not participate in the trial because of my age. Plus, they did not know the long-term effects of brain radiation.

7. Are you still in treatment?
No.

8. Did you try any alternative or complementary treatments outside of your traditional doctor's recommendation?
I tried to do some mental imaging. I also tried to remain positive that the treatment was killing the cancer cells.

9. Do you take any nutritional supplements? If so, what do you take?
I drink green tea and take flaxseed oil, multi vitamins, vitamin C, D, and fish oil.

10. Did you change your diet? How is it different from before your diagnosis?
Yes. I eat mostly fish, vegetables, fruits, and nuts. I also eat whole wheat vs. white flour..

11. Did you change your exercise program? How is it different from before your diagnosis?
Yes, I currently exercise one hour daily.

12. Did you change your stress reduction program? How is it different from before your diagnosis?
Yes, I quit teaching. I try not to let things upset me over which I have no control.

13. Are you currently considered to be disease free?
Yes.

14. How long have you been disease free?
With lung cancer, you are considered disease free after three years. I have been disease free for 24 years.

15. What are you doing to stay disease free?
Eating healthy, working out, drinking green tea, getting plenty of sleep.

16. What do you think is the most important thing you did to combat your cancer?  
I willingly took all the treatments with a positive attitude. I also think exercise is very powerful.

17. Are you willing to have a newly diagnosed patient contact you?
Yes.

18. Brief Additional Narrative
When I was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer in 1982, I was 37 and scared to death. I can remember some dark days. Around that same time, however, someone gave me Richard (Dick) Bloch’s book Cancer… there’s Hope, which is about his experience with lung cancer that was similar to mine. He wrote about how important a positive attitude was for your immune system. I tried not to let myself have negative thoughts because I knew it was not beneficial for me health wise.

I have been cancer-free since my treatment. Having survived this has made me more outgoing, more positive, and more appreciative of relationships. I try to have every day be a good day. I feel very lucky – I know the statistics are not good for lung cancer survivors. I also feel fortunate that I’ve been around to see our grandchildren, watch our sons grow older and to enjoy being with my husband.