The Journey of a Cancer Survivor
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Pat, a 52-year-old cancer survivor, was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).
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She has successfully lived with cancer long enough to know that patients who actively participate in their own treatment decisions do better.
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"Knowledge is power," Pat says, "and being able to ask questions and make informed decisions can save your life."
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As a cancer survivor, Pat's journey helps other patients navigate their own journeys by offering tips on what to expect at the Nagourney Cancer Institute.
My journey began on September 15, 2008
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That afternoon, while leaving the gym, I had a sudden seizure. I was taken by ambulance to my local hospital in Long Beach, California.
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A CT scan confirmed that I had two small brain tumors, one of which had caused the seizure.
After numerous other tests, I was informed that I had Stage IV NSCLC (non-small cell lung cancer) with metastases to my brain.
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I was in shock. It was surreal.
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I was a healthy, 52-year-old woman with no symptoms. I was surrounded by doctors I didn’t know who were telling me things I could barely comprehend.
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I was told that my cancer was inoperable and was advised to immediately start chemotherapy and radiation.
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I was told to go home and get my affairs in order.
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Also, I was asked if I wanted to talk to the hospital chaplain. I was certainly not given the impression that I could survive, or that I had options.
What Should I Do?
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The only thing I knew for certain was that I was an amateur when it came to cancer and I had no idea what I was supposed to do.
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Should I just do as the doctors said and start chemotherapy immediately?
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Would I get sick? Could I survive? Did I have time to wait and do some research? Should I get a second opinion? Were there alternatives? Even if there were, how could I know what was best?
Fortunately, I have a close friend who was, and still is, a pharmacist at this hospital.
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She insisted I consult with Dr. Robert Nagourney before deciding anything. She told me that he was a highly regarded oncologist and a pioneer in the development and use of functional profiling.
Heeding my friend's advice, a few days later I was seated in the waiting room at Nagourney Cancer Institute.
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A sign on the wall read “Hope Practiced Here.” That was comforting because I certainly didn't leave the hospital feeling very hopeful.
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Meeting Dr. Nagourney
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I sat quietly as Dr. Nagourney reviewed my medical records.
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He gave me a physical exam, then asked if I felt sick. I said, “No, I don't feel sick at all; I feel healthy.”
What Dr. Nagourney said next really surprised me.
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He replied, “That's because you're not sick. You have cancer, and my job is to keep you from getting sick.”
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He explained that, even though my cancer was very serious (having already metastasized, it was technically incurable), he was certain there were treatments that would help.
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He explained that most oncologists follow standard protocols, treating patients with the same chemotherapy drugs based solely on their type of cancer.
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Since Dr. Nagourney believes that no two patients are alike, and neither are their tumors, he would do something different.
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He would test a piece of my tumor first to see which of the many potential chemotherapies would be the most effective at killing my cancer cells.
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Whichever drug(s) proved most effective in the lab would be the treatment he would prescribe – personalized just for me.
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I didn't realize there were so many kinds of chemotherapies, and that despite clinical trial evidence, some drugs might work while others would not.
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Testing them first in the lab seemed so simple and obvious – and it worked!
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