“I seemed to be healthy,” said Misty Barnes. “But a person’s suggestion to get lung cancer screening has changed everything. This is how I knew that I had lung cancer. ”
Misty loved life as a wife, mother, grandmother and art teacher, 57, when her father died of lung cancer in 2018. At the same time, his mother – who also died of lung cancer in 2020 – was in the midst of her own battle against the disease. It was then that Misty received a council.
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Be tested
“My sister-in-law worked for a pulmonary doctor and said I would be eligible for cancer screening due to my family history,” said Misty. “She thought that I should get screening even if I had no symptoms and that I did not smoke. But my two parents smoked quite strongly in the 1960s and 70s, so I had lived with used smoke. My father was also an iron worker and was exposed to asbestos, which increased his level of risk.”
In December 2018, Misty underwent a low -dose computed tomography, which used a very small amount of radiation to filter a person for cancer.
The results
“They found two places on my right lung,” said Misty. “The good news was that they thought I would go well, but they were going to look at it. So I came back every six months for analyzes and I got good reports until August 9, 2022. I will never forget this meeting. It was at this time that my doctor’s office called and said they were very suspicious that I had adenocarcinoma, which was confirmed a few weeks later.
Adenocarcinoma is cancer that begins in glandular tissues that make mucus or liquid, such as lung, breast, prostate and colon. It is the most common type of lung cancer and develops more slowly than other types.
One person can have lung cancer for years before emerging the symptoms. And at that time, the disease can be at its subsequent steps and difficult to treat.
Undergoing surgery
Fortunately for Misty, cancer was found early – at the first stage. Thus, his surgeon of the OSF Healthcare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Illinois, was able to suppress everything.
“My surgeon was incredible,” said Misty. “He took out the whole upper lobe from my right lung, and I was lucky because he was able to remove all the cancer. I did not have to have chemo or radiation. ”
Give credit
Misty attributes early detection by screening – and her parents – for having saved her life.
“I was very close to my parents and I really think they saved my life,” said Misty. “I would never have obtained screening if I had not been encouraged to do so because of their diseases. There was a huge advantage in catching my cancer early before it spreads. It saved me. ”
Misty’s daughter is a nurse in Osf Healthcare and often takes care of cancer patients.
“There are many times when she calls me and will say things like:” Mom, you’re so lucky. I treat a person in their forties, and they have stadium lung cancer. It was after being saved. “This is why I tell my story about early projection.
Do not avoid screening
Misty continues to obtain projections every six months to ensure that cancer has not returned. For anyone who hesitates to be tested, she has a simple recommendation.
“Please do it. If they find cancer, then at least there is a chance that you have caught it early. And if they find nothing, you will have the peace of mind knowing that you are clear.”
Last update: May 30, 2024
