Tammy F., MD

In July of 2023 I experienced a piercing pain in my back around my shoulder blade. This pain lasted for 5 days and I finally went to the doctor. I thought I was have a heart attack or some kind of heart issues, so of course, the doctor ordered all kinds of tests STAT. When I received those results on MyChart, it showed that I had NSCLC 3rd stage. I was devastated and scared, Cancer. That word scares everybody. In October I had a biopsy done of my left lung and found that 1 out of 4 lymph nodes were Malignant and there was a small spot on the top of my left lung. I started taking chemotherapy and Immunotherapy in November. I had 3 treatments and then the surgery to remove the small spot on my lung was scheduled for January. It was called a wedge surgery, however, after MRI and CT scan they found that the Malignancy was to close to my pulmonary artery and I may not be able to have the surgery. Another devastating loss, I was extremely scared not of dying but not wanting to die now. I decided that I was going after a 2nd opinion, so January 23, 2024, I headed to Jacksonville Florida to meet with another oncologist and 1 of the best lung cancer doctor in the country. While traveling with my sister my thorasic surgery called me. I was driving through North Carolina at this time and she was so excited to tell me that all of my cancer was gone!! I turned my car around in a Authorized Vehicle Only turn. I was coming home and having this surgery. On January 31, 2024 I had the surgery to remove the small spot on my lung and to build a sleeve around the pulmonary artery. That surgery was a success until it wasn't. I coughed like crazy for 5 days and when the last CT scan came back, the doctor's told me they were sorry but the sleeve was constricting the blood from my heart to my lung. My lung started filling up with fluid and I ended up with a extremely bad case of pneumonia. The PA told me they were sorry but the only thing to be done was to remove my lung to save my life, I said do it! February 5th 2024 my left lung was completely removed. I went home after 3 days and after 2 days I was back in the hospital for 5 more days. Too much fluid was building up in the empty space that was once where my left lung lived. That was taken care of and I went home. Home Health came to my house for 4 weeks, along with physical therapist. 

Hot summer days can take my breath away but I just stop and relax and my breath comes back just as well as a 2 lung person. I am cancer free and have been since January 2024. I never coughed or had any other symptoms of lung cancer and I was a smoker for 46 years. I quit smoking 1.5 years before I was diagnosed. I'm loving life and all that Lord Jesus has allowed me to do to succeed. My advise is never start smoking, whether it be cigarettes or Vapes. Life is too short to waste it away. Oh I am scheduled for the removal of my port this month. LIFE & God is GOOD!!!