For lung cancer, no early tests
6:47 p.m. Sunday, March 26, 2006
“The biopsy that I had done showed it was cancerous,” said Vickie Nelson, lung cancer survivor. “They said I had cancer of the lung, and I said OK, take the lung out. He said he couldn’t do that. I asked why not, and the doctor said the cancer is not in my lung, it is on my lung.”
After discovering a lump on the back of her head, Nelson began a two-year journey to find out what was wrong with her.
“I was cut, poked, probed and the super-glued back together,” Nelson said.
Doctors discovered Nelson had lung cancer after a series of MRI and CAT Scans. Nelson began aggressive chemotherapy and radiation treatment, but not without a serious lifestyle change.
Nelson called it quits on her 50-year, two-packs-a-day smoking habit.
“He took my hand and looked at me with those big black eyes and said, ‘Please, Mrs. Nelson, please quit smoking,’” Nelson said.
It is the leading cause of death in the U.S. from cancer, and has the highest mortality rate of all cancers. Much of lung cancer is linked to tobacco.
Oncologist Dr. Raja Mehdi treated Nelson. He said the lack of pre-screenings available for lung cancer makes it difficult to treat.
“You have mammograms for breast cancer or Pap Smears for ovarian cancer. Nothing so far has shown up to improve [lung cancer’s] survival rate,” Dr. Mehdi said.
Nelson has been cancer free since last November and will continue to have routine check-ups, but in the meantime she has a strong will.
“I lost my hair. You can see that,” Nelson said. “I went totally bald. This has grown out quite a bit. It is kind of cute. Everyone loves my hairstyle.”
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