I was diagnosed with EGFR-positive lung cancer in July 2012, but I had never had any symptoms of lung cancer before that.
It actually started in the fall of 2011, when I began experiencing aching in my legs—especially my right leg. As time went on into early 2012, the pain became more like sciatic nerve pain, shooting down my leg.
I first went to a neurologist a couple of times, and he prescribed medication for nerve pain, but it didn’t help. I then went to a chiropractor, who suspected my vertebrae might be out of alignment. He took an X-ray and noticed a mass, so he sent me for an MRI.
The MRI revealed a mass in my sacrum. I was referred to an orthopedist, who performed a biopsy and initially believed it would be benign. However, the results came back as lung cancer. That diagnosis completely turned my world upside down.
At the time, I had four children, including a baby less than a year old, and a husband. We were living in Texas and had no family nearby.
I immediately began radiation treatment to help with the pain. About halfway through the radiation sessions, the pain significantly improved. That was how my family spent the summer of 2012.
In August 2012, I started treatment with Tarceva. After my first follow-up visits, scans showed that multiple spots in my lungs had disappeared, leaving only the main tumor. This was very encouraging.
I stayed on Tarceva for about four and a half years. During that time, my family and I decided to move to the Seattle area to be closer to my family, who live in British Columbia. That move also allowed me to start seeing my current doctor.
After several years on Tarceva, I developed the T790M mutation, and in February 2017 I was switched to Tagrisso.
Throughout all of this, my family has been extremely supportive. My older children had some difficulty at first, but seeing me doing well has helped them adjust.
To this day, I have not experienced any symptoms. I go for check-ups every two to three months. My lifestyle has changed significantly, including a complete change in my diet. It has gotten to the point where I can’t really eat at restaurants with my family anymore, but for me, being here with my family is more important.
I truly believe my diet has helped, and my faith has also been an important source of strength. I view this as a chronic disease rather than a terminal one. I’m stubborn, and I plan to be here for many more years to come.
