The Glowing Tumor: Francie's Lung Cancer Story

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I had two swollen glands in my throat, which led me to visit my primary care physician. They were not painful, but they had been there for some time, so I wanted to be sure it was nothing serious. My doctor referred me to an ear, nose, and throat specialist. My throat was fine, but during a CAT scan, they noticed what they described as ground glass densities in the upper part of my lungs.

I contacted my primary physician, Dr. Soffer, who is affiliated with Penn in Media, Delaware County, and asked for a recommendation for a specialist in the city. I underwent both a CAT scan and a PET scan. When the images were shown, I could clearly see my ribcage and a white spot about one inch in size, which was identified as cancer.

I was then asked if I would participate in a clinical trial. The study involved injecting a green dye into my body 24 hours before surgery. This dye would illuminate cancer cells that might not be visible on standard imaging like CAT scans or PET scans. The medical team explained that they were still exploring how the technology worked, but it had the potential to highlight hidden tumors. I agreed immediately.

During surgery, the plan was to remove a tumor in the lower right lobe of my right lung. However, once the dye was activated, it revealed another tumor that had not been detected previously. The glowing effect made it clearly visible, allowing the surgeon to identify and remove it.

This situation has occurred in other cases as well, where tumors not seen on traditional imaging become visible using this method. In my case, the second tumor was very small, under one centimeter, and would likely have gone unnoticed without this technology. If it had not been removed, it could have developed into a more serious condition later.

Because both tumors were identified and removed early, I did not require chemotherapy, radiation, or any additional treatment. The outcome was significantly improved due to early detection.

If I had gone to a facility that did not use this type of technology, the second tumor might never have been found. I am grateful for receiving care at Penn, which has a strong reputation comparable to leading institutions. Living close to such a facility made access convenient.

I now consider myself fully cured, not just in remission but completely cancer-free. This experience feels extraordinary, especially given that one of the tumors was not visible through standard methods. It has reinforced the importance of advanced detection techniques and ongoing research.

I believe there is value in sharing this experience so that more patients, doctors, and researchers become aware of such procedures. Increasing awareness can contribute to better outcomes and advancements in cancer treatment.