My Turn: Lung cancer's reality sharpens focus on her life's journey
Saturday, July 16, 2011 - 05:30
in Health & Medicine
June 26 marked the seventh month since my diagnosis of Stage 3B non-small cell lung cancer. Life expectancy from date of diagnosis, with treatment, is 12 to 18 months. So I'm a little shy of halfway there, if we're going by the more optimistic figure. Of course, statistics are only statistics, not a finite rule applied to everyone fighting cancer. A number of people survive far beyond that bleak prognosis; I've met some who've passed the seven-year mark, a few even making 10 years and beyond. But that's rare.