Denise N., IL

My name is Denise , I’m 58 and I was diagnosed with small cell carcinoma in February 2024. December of 2023 I went to immediate care for a sore throat. From there I was sent to the hospital for very low pulse. After having a CT/Angio I was released. Two days later I looked up my results on my chart and was shocked when I saw there was a nodule in my left lung. I was never told about it. I called my primary and she sent me for a PET scan. She wasn’t really worried because my PET scan really didn’t light up. I then went to a pulmonologist who felt the same as my primary but wanted to do a biopsy. I asked if we could wait till the end of March, he replied no. We did it within the week.

I went for my follow up and couldn’t believe the news. I had the very beginning of small cell carcinoma. I felt my world was shattered. I tried to stay strong but would breakdown when I was by myself. I have two grandchildren ( boy and girl) from my daughter and my son had a baby on the way. I want to see my grandchildren grow up. I started chemo and radiation together four rounds of chemo and 33 treatments of radiation. I ended up in the hospital twice. Once  for a collapsed lung( I was in for a week) the second for ulcers on my esophagus (another week). All I kept doing was vomiting. I was so weak I couldn’t even get out of bed. After I finished both treatments I started feeling better in about six weeks.  

I’ve had some follow up scans and everything has been negative. No sign of the cancer. I will continue with follow up scans and blood work praying it never comes back.