My sister, a non-smoker, was recently diagnosed with poorly differentiated adenocarcionoma stage 3B lung cancer.
When I learned my only sibling was ill I could not get my hands on enough research. I wanted to learn everything there was about this horrid disease.
What causes non-smokers to develop cancer? What are the symptoms? How is it treated? Could it have been prevented? And the biggest question of all, is my sister going to die?
These questions prompted the research that I wanted to share here.
There are two types: small cell and non-small cell. Small cell lung cancer is very aggressive, and found primarily in smokers and spreads quickly to other organs.
Non-small cell lung cancer is more common and accounts for 80 percent of the disease. Diana has adenocarcinoma, a subcategory of NCLC.
Symptoms of the disease are a cough that does not go away, chest pain, shortness of breath, persistent hoarseness, swelling of the neck and face, significant weight loss that is not due to dieting or vigorous exercise, fatigue and loss of appetite, bloody or brown-colored spit or phlegm, unexplained fever, recurrent lung infections, such as bronchitis or pneumonia.
As a child, Diana had pneumonia. Was this the culprit?
While smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer, it is estimated 15,000 lung cancer deaths in the U.S. are of non-smokers. This statistic was staggering.
Secondhand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 different chemicals, 43 of which cause cancer.
At least 26 percent of adults smoke and 50 percent to 67 percent of their children are younger than 5. Furthermore, non-smoking spouses of smokers were at a 30 percent greater risk of developing lung cancer compared to spouses of non-smokers.
Cancer can emulate from numerous other sources including exposure to asbestos and toxic chemicals, environmental contamination, chronic lung inflammation, and scarring, family history, diet. The list is endless.
Now, for the big question: Is my sister going to die?
I am hopeful she will beat the odds. Like many cancer patients, she must endure multiple chemotherapy treatments to rid her body of cancer.
Whether Diana realizes it or not, she is my hero, I can learn so much from her strength. She is definitely the “Wind Beneath My Wings” as in Bette Midler's song.
Susan Burzynski is a dental hygienist at a Tonawanda dental office.
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