I Lost My Independence And How I Gained It Back

After I was diagnosed with lung cancer, I lost my independence. I had just finished up a five-day hospital stay. Along with my parents, I went back to their house to digest the news that we had just received. My sister was not yet home from her travel nursing job, so we sat and watched movies and tried to forget.

The first few weeks were a blur

The next week I tried going back to work and it proved to be very difficult. I dived back in as if I did not just take a week off. I continued working while taking my first treatment which was a TKI. We scheduled scans one month later to see how things were going.

It showed that the tumor was growing and that there was fluid around my heart. I spent 2 more weeks in the hospital, and this was where I really lost my independence. I relied heavily on my sister. She spoke with nurses and doctors. She made sure that I was getting the appropriate amount of pain medication and that I was eating. Things were not looking well for me and this was where I learned to be just a little selfish. My family is also the reason that I would not have to get open-heart surgery.

My mom moved in to help me

While I was on chemo and thinking about starting a clinical trial my mom moved in with us. She took great care of me and made sure that I ate. I was very thin and needed all the calories that I could get. My go-to meals were pancakes and fried eggs. I also had a short time where my acid reflux was so bad all I could eat was gravy, as in mashed potatoes and gravy just without the potatoes! She entertained me during the days with trips to her house or the store to pick up food to make for dinner.

Finding work after a cancer diagnosis

I missed a lot of work during this time, but my employer was very understanding. I eventually worked my way back to a casual part-time role where I was able to come in once or twice a week to help in the office. I learned a lot of office procedures during this time. I then moved to a part-time role and worked myself up to the idea of full-time. I looked for a new job and I now work full time with a different company.

From living with my sister to owning a home

When I was diagnosed, my twin sister and I lived together in an apartment. While I was undergoing treatment, my sister bought a house and I moved in with her there. She helped me stay financially afloat at this time as well.

With a lung cancer diagnosis hanging over my head I never dreamed that I would also one day own a home. My boyfriend and I got married and later we decided to try to get a mortgage. After a few months of looking and all the paperwork, we are now happy homeowners. I live in a very small town; I have a two-minute commute and have three fur babies to cuddle.