MISSY SPEASE/CANCER SURVIVOR: Cancer is not always a death sentence. However, when you are diagnosed, the first thought is often that you are going to die. Life changes immediately.
I had been dealing with a lingering cough from bronchitis. A nurse I worked with noticed it and insisted that I get it checked. I initially dismissed it, but she encouraged me to get a chest X-ray. I saw Dr. Guerrini, who ordered the scan. After the X-ray, I returned to work, assuming it was just an infection. A few hours later, he asked to speak with me privately.
I was shocked but still believed it might be something minor. My primary care physician, Dr. Blake Long, referred me to Dr. Chen in pulmonary care. He performed a biopsy and confirmed that there were cancer cells in my lung.
My first reaction was guilt. I had been a smoker for 30 years, and I questioned my past choices. I then met with a multidisciplinary team through the TOPS clinic, including a cardiothoracic surgeon, an oncologist, and a radiation oncologist. They worked together to determine the best treatment plan.
I was initially diagnosed with Stage IIIB lung cancer, which I understood was serious. Surgery was scheduled for February 1. Before the procedure, Dr. Lata explained that he needed to examine lymph nodes in the mediastinal area, as they would not appear clearly on imaging.
The day of surgery was difficult. It coincided with my son’s final basketball game and homecoming, and I had to miss it. My family supported me, being there early that morning before surgery. The procedure lasted many hours. The surgeon removed the tumor along with the right upper lobe of my lung and sent the lymph nodes for testing.
The results showed that the lymph nodes were negative. This changed everything. My diagnosis was revised from Stage IIIB to Stage IB. Because of this, I did not require chemotherapy or radiation. The outcome was directly linked to early detection.
Recovery brought a new perspective. I became deeply grateful for the nurse who pushed me to get checked, the doctors who treated me, and the support from my family and friends. I decided to pursue goals I had always wanted, including running. Later that year, I participated in a Tough Mudder event and began training for a full marathon.
This experience highlighted how important early detection is. Cancer can affect anyone—regardless of role or identity. During this time, I also knew someone whose relative was diagnosed with lung cancer shortly after me but did not have the same outcome. She passed away within months, which reinforced how critical early diagnosis can be.
I was told that without early detection, I might not have lived to see my sons graduate—one from high school and one from college. That realization has stayed with me.
