Hi my name is Calvin and I was diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer at the age of 33 back in 2016. I was traveling quite a bit for work, and after a long flight to Germany I wasn’t feeling well. It got so bad that I was bedridden in a hotel room for four days. When I finally flew back home to Denver, I went straight to the doctor with medication they had given me in Germany. My doctor thought it looked like pneumonia and treated me for that, then said it might be adult asthma since I had asthma as a kid.
For a while, this pattern kept repeating. I would get very sick for a week, then change medications, then feel better for a short time before getting sick again. This went on through 2016 and 2017 while I continued traveling for work. Then COVID hit in 2020.
Around that time, I was at an allergist and asthma center with my daughter, who has a peanut allergy. I asked if I could be checked again because my symptoms weren’t improving. The doctor ran tests and immediately sent me for X-rays. The results showed I needed to see a pulmonologist.
The pulmonologist told me there were three possible diagnoses: a fatal lung disease with only six to twelve months to live, a condition called “cauliflower lung” often associated with vaping (even though I had never smoked), or lung cancer. She said lung cancer was actually the best-case scenario.
After more testing and scans, including a PET scan, I still wasn’t feeling well. At one point, while camping in the mountains near Denver, I couldn’t breathe properly at high altitude, which confused me because I wasn’t sick with COVID. That’s when doctors decided a biopsy was necessary.
During the biopsy procedure, they discovered a large mass over my left lung and stopped the procedure immediately. The next day, I was told they needed to remove the mass right away. The doctors believed it was cancer based on what they saw.
The mass was removed quickly, and a few days later, just before Labor Day weekend, I received the diagnosis. The surgeon called and told me I had stage 1 lung cancer. He explained that this was the most treatable stage and laid out a very direct plan. He scheduled me for surgery just 13 days later, which would involve removing my entire left lung.
At first, I wondered if I should get a second opinion, but the surgeon explained that he was closely connected with my care team and that this was the necessary step. He also told me that delaying treatment could lead to stage 3 or 4 cancer, which could be fatal.
Hearing this was overwhelming. I began thinking about my daughter, who was only two years old at the time, and what her future would look like. I struggled with questions about what caused the cancer, even though I never smoked. I also faced fears about whether my wife would have to raise our daughter alone.
Leading up to surgery, the reality began to sink in. I had been active and athletic my whole life, so the idea of major surgery and living with only one lung was hard to process.
The surgery took place, and when I woke up, the first thing I asked my wife was about a football player on my fantasy team, showing how disoriented I was in the moment. The doctors removed my entire left lung.
After surgery, I spent time in the ICU for about a day and a half, then several more days in the hospital. I had to relearn basic functions like walking and even using the bathroom. It was a long and difficult recovery process.
My family supported me through this, but it was especially hard not being able to see my daughter. My mom waited in the parking lot because only one visitor was allowed at a time.
Since then, life has changed significantly. I have to be very mindful of how I live. Travel, climate, and physical activity are all planned carefully. I do better in certain environments, especially at lower altitudes, and I have to avoid situations where breathing becomes difficult.
Even simple activities like playing with my child require adjustments, and we plan vacations around what my body can handle. I can still enjoy life, but it comes with limitations and awareness.
Through this experience, I learned the importance of listening to your body. If something feels wrong, it’s critical to pursue answers and not ignore it. At the same time, it’s important not to blindly trust that everything is fine without questioning or advocating for yourself.
You have to stay persistent, ask questions, and push for proper testing if something doesn’t feel right. Taking charge of your own health can make a life-changing difference.
