Lisa's Story

MY ALK-POSITIVE STORY

In April of 2021, we had an early spring. I decided to sit outside with my coffee but I also felt my asthma starting already. I went to my doctor for my annual dose of steroids. When I went back for my check-up, my doctor was concerned because there was no improvement. He sent me for a chest CT scan that day, May 27th my 50th birthday. After the results, I went back to see him. Everything on that paper scared me, words like lymph node, lesion on liver and lungs, ending with "recommend PET scan". Now I have find a pulmonary doctor and I can't take deep breath.

In June, I was still calling every pulmonologist in the area. The nearest appointment I could find was in September! We decided to go to RUSH in Chicago after I already made an appointment. I was admitted on July 19th and diagnosed on July 20th with stage IV lung cancer. I remember being shocked and confused. I didn't even smoke! The next week my DNA markers confirmed that it was ALK-POSITIVE Small Cell Lung Cancer.