Hope C., MS

A little over 3 years ago, I came down with Pneumonia. To confirm this, the doctor took a chest x-ray, which showed a spot on my lower right lobe of my lung. Biopsy confirmed that I had a Well Differentiated Carcinoma. The scary thing is that another x-ray on file from 5 years prior, showed the same spot! No one bothered to tell me to get it checked. In Feb. 2010, I had a lobectomy by a wonderful surgeon followed up by some precautionary chemo and a little over 3 years later, I am still cancer free. I was a former smoker, but had not smoked in over 25 years! So, as my oncologist told me... Pneumonia saved my life! Even with the lack of the lower right lobe, I lead a very normal life, exercise regularly (well, sort of, kind of), can walk 3 miles and I feel great. My goal after my surgery and before my post op check up with my surgeon, was to be able to walk a mile and I did!