I was seen by a rheumatologist who ordered a chest X-ray as part of an exam to determine arthritis and the tumor was discovered. It turned out to be non-small cell lung cancer (SCLC), specifically squamous cell carcinoma.

I did have some symptoms like:

• Coughing that got worse/didn’t go away
• Coughing up blood
• Feeling very tired all the time
• Weight loss with no known cause

When I heard the news, my feelings were a mix of anger, fear, sadness, surprise and hopelessness. My diagnosis is terminal with a prognosis of 2 years.

Following my doctor’s recommendation, I opted for chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The chemo lasted 4 rounds over 3 months, while immunotherapy will last for 9 rounds over 6 months. I am covered by insurance and Canadian health care is free.

I had both chemo and immunotherapy at the same time for the first 4 rounds, 6.5 hours each time. I took anti-nausea, steroids and antihistamine medication before each chemo. Immunotherapy is ongoing for every 3 weeks with no medication.

The treatment may prolong my life, but it will eventually stop working and I will die. This makes me fearful.

As a result of treatment, I suffered from peripheral neuropathy. It was constant numbness and tingling in my fingers and feet. It made walking difficult at times and there’s a lack of sensation in my hands. I’ve also struggled with dizziness which feels like vertigo and fatigue.

To manage these side effects, I exercised more frequently and improved my nutrition.

While I’ve experienced difficulties in my day-to-day life, self-esteem/self-image and professional life, challenges in my social life and relationships with loved ones have had the biggest impact on me. So, I do everything that I need to do to be as healthy as possible and I make sure that my family knows everything about my cancer.

My family is aware of my wishes after I pass. My will is made and my medical team knows that I have a DNR order in place. My husband has access to all of my finances and my family knows how much I love them.

After my cancer diagnosis, I was placed on short term, then long term disability. So, I’ve stopped working.

The fear of dying or not surviving scares me the most. To manage this fear, I am:

• Speaking to a therapist or counselor
• Focusing on physical recovery and staying active
• Undertaking spiritual or religious practices
• Focusing on positive thinking or gratitude

I’ve had time to accept the fact that I have cancer. But I don’t know how long I have left to live and I don’t want to leave the people that I love and who love me.

Please allow yourself to feel your emotions – sadness, fear, anger. Cry when you need to cry. Be vulnerable; you don’t need to be alone through this.

Ask every question that you have, listen to your oncologist and ask for additional resources if you need them i.e. dietician or psychological help. Honestly, I never expected to receive the extremely high level of care that I’m receiving now. My oncologist and everyone at the cancer institute are amazing.