November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month

My Family and I at a Fundraiser Benefit in my Honor

It is a personal mission for me to spread the word that November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. I was only forty-one years old when I was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer in February of 2004. Hearing those three scary and life altering words, "you have cancer" is something I'll never forget. My twin sister was by my side as we anxiously waited for the call about my lung biopsy. When the phone rang and I heard the doctor say, "sorry to have to tell you that you have lung cancer,"I found myself repeating the words out loud." My loving sister turned white, fainted and fell to the floor. How could I have lung cancer? I am fairly young and have never smoked cigarrettes.

I've learned a lot about the disease of lung cancer since then. It doesn't matter if you smoke or not. Lung cancer can hit anyone for different reasons. Although smoking is a major risk factor for developing lung cancer, there are other risk factors: Exposure to radon gas or Asbestos, being around second hand smoke and air pollution. I'll never know exactly what caused my lung cancer but I'm sure it was a number of risk factors, including parents that were heavy smokers throughout my childhood.

It was a long hard journey to endure but I was willing to fight as hard as I could for my life. I had surgery to remove the middle lobe of my right lung. I went through a grueling five months of chemotherapy and eventually radiation therapy. I was told I had a 20-25% chance of surviving the first five years because the cancer had spread to a couple lymph nodes. I am happy and grateful to say that I'm seven years cancer free and doing great. Odds of the cancer coming back are very low now that I passed the five year mark. I am a example of how any of us can beat the odds of any life-threatening disease.

According to the American Lung Association, "lung cancer kills more men and women than any other cancer." I hope you will help me in my crusade to spread the word that November is 'lung cancer awareness month.' Hopefully in my life time, they will find better and less evasive treatments and a cure.

Sincerely, Linda Rogers aka Twincess Diaries