Lung Cancer
The story below describes how Lung Cancer Connections may be able to provide you with educational and supportive information. By enrolling in Lung Cancer Connections, you will have access to important information that may help you take an active role in your own care.
Wendy, Lung Cancer Caregiver
My husband was first diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer in April of 2006. And honestly, it was like a bomb dropped into the middle of our lives. We went through a period of probably two weeks of seeing different specialists.
It was our primary doctor that found the cancer on a routine X-ray. Then we saw a lung specialist, and then, or course, we had to go see a pulmonary specialist. There were CAT Scans, PET Scans, a bronchoscopy—it just seemed like we were running from one test to another. And, of course, the news just was getting more and more grim. So that was a terrifying time in our lives. We were like deer caught in the headlights for the first few days.
But then it began to sink in and of course, we had questions. That's where the Cancer Connections program became so helpful. The Care Team Discussion Guide we got described each person on the Care Team and what their function was. That was very helpful, so at least we knew who was responsible for what. Also, learning that it's okay to ask for copies of test reports—in the early days I was always nervous about asking for copies of blood tests and CAT scans and things like that. Thanks to the program, I started keeping everything in a binder, my notes, questions, and the reports, so we can have everything with us at each appointment.
The emotional impact of non-small cell lung cancer is beyond description. Right from the initial diagnosis when you feel like your world has just exploded and then there's all this frustration of possibly not being able to get in to see a doctor or get tests done right away. You just want everything to start moving immediately. And, of course, it doesn't work that way. Even the delay of a week drives you crazy in the beginning. But after awhile, once a treatment plan is in place, your emotions tend to settle down a little bit. And I think that's because you're feeling like you're at least on the road to having some control, and you feel like you're being proactive about managing the disease.
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