Personal testimonials are not often taken seriously. These testimonials range across a variety of subjects from religious conversion, to coming back from the dead, to being taken captive by small creatures with oval eyes who pilot space craft. My testimonial is not so dramatic. It is about lung cancer.
My mother-in-law's sister, then 68 years old was diagnosed with Stage III lung cancer in 1996. She underwent chemotherapy and radiation and was dead in six months. My mother-in-law was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer in 1997. She underwent extensive chemo and radiation therapy and was dead in fourteen months.
My father-in-law was diagnosed with Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer in 1998 and was dead in 4 months. I hoped that might be an end to it all. My mother-in-law lived with me during her illness and treatment as did my father-in-law. I experienced perhaps twenty five chemo treatments and 90 doses of radiation along with all the attendant side effects, which were considerable. Lung cancer was not finished with my family.
My wife, beautiful, vibrant and 49 years old, was diagnosed with the same illness in February of 2002 and died in September of 2003 leaving me alone with my youngest daughter, then ten years old. I still think of the numerous sessions of chemotherapy and the even more numerous sessions of radiation. She did not tolerate any of the treatment well. She was constantly sick and unable to eat.
Last week, my 66 year old brother-in-law, a life long oil man, came up from South America for medical tests. He was short of breath and had difficulty swallowing. Today he was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer,
All were smokers at one time in their lives. All had subsequently quit. It was not in time for any of them.
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