5 minute read
in the summer of 2021, i developed a dry cough, and it got to the point where i’d have to hold my left side [when i coughed], because the pain was bad. i couldn’t reach my family doctor, so i went to a walk-in clinic in cornwall. the doctor first thought it was shingles, because the pain was in my side, and it was red — [but that was] because i was holding it. then, two days later, he did an x-ray.
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it was pretty scary. he said it looked like pneumonia, so he put me on antibiotics and then sent the result to my family doctor. a week later, on sept. 20 , my family doctor ordered her own x-ray, and after that x-ray, there was a ct scan. on nov. 2 , i was referred to the ottawa hospital and then, on nov. 22 , i had an mri and a pet scan. november 30 was a biopsy. on dec. 15 i saw an oncologist and that was when i was diagnosed.
it just blew my mind. all that time, the only clue i had that it was cancer was my doctor had said they may do a biopsy. and when i heard “biopsy,” i thought, what the heck is going on? so i’m still thinking it’s maybe bad, but also thinking that i’m not sick enough to have cancer.
i was just blown away. i just lost it — how can i have stage 4, incurable lung cancer when i feel like this? a lot of people, when they’re diagnosed, are really sick. it’s all in your attitude — i think, anyway, for me. i’m not sick, so i’m not going to act sick.
so [i received my diagnosis on] december 15 th . on dec. 17 , i started [medication]: four capsules, 600 milligrams, twice a day. that’s my treatment. i’ve had no intravenous chemo, no radiation yet. i’ve met with a radiation doctor — he’s ready when i need it. but i don’t need it yet.
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it was scary because i was really sick. my throat, my ears, the body aches, the sweat. i had all of that for [five to six days]. then i got that medicine for covid-19. it left an awful taste in my mouth, but i had it for five days.
much better. i managed to get out — [i had been] housebound for 10 days. my daughter and i usually walk at least once a week. in the summer, we kayaked quite a bit. but i’m ok staying in. i like to read and crochet.
[since i’ve been diagnosed], it’s not nice to say, but i’m a happier person — because i have something that’ll make me live a little longer. i’ve got lots to be thankful for. you know, if i give up, that’s a sad thing. to say, i’m going to give up .
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that’s the reason i don’t want to know how long i have to live. people ask me, h ow long do you have, how long have they given you? i don’t want to know, because if i know i only have a year, am i going to be happy in that year? or am i going to be depressed because i’m dying?
i crochet, i read. i’m working on crocheting slippers for christmas. i want to donate to the hospital too. the little hats for the newborns — i like making them. i’m busy. my husband and i, we keep each other going. he likes to cook, so i let him have the kitchen — i like to eat.
nancy’s daughter, lisa wannamaker, also spoke to healthing about her experience supporting her mom through treatment. read the interview here.
to learn more about living with lung cancer, and to connect with others, check o ut lung cancer canada and canadian lung cancer advocacy — breathe hope.
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emma jones is a multimedia editor with healthing. you can reach her at emjones@postmedia.com or on instagram and twitter @jonesyjourn .
