By Bob Totten
2/5/26
In November 2018, Carol insisted I see our doctor because of a persistent cough – that led to a chest X-Ray that revealed a mass on my lung. I had experienced no other symptoms, other than the cough.
The previous April I had been hospitalized with a case of pneumonia. Upon discharge they recommended a follow up X-Ray in a few of months. That X-Ray was apparently misread by the radiologist – tumors were there but were apparently missed.
After seeing my primary care doctor (at Carol’s insistence), another X-Ray was ordered and that was when I was properly diagnosed. Having questionable confidence in my local hospital, I decided to call Memorial Sloan Kettering to ask for a second opinion. They agreed to see me the next day and, in early January 2019, robotically removed the tumors and 12 lymph nodes (5 showing traces of cancer) as well as a significant portion of my right lung. (I was in surgery for 6 hours.)
The pathology report showed that I had had Stage 2B lung cancer, but the doctor felt confident she had gotten it all. Chemotherapy was suggested. The oncologist said she wouldn’t normally recommend chemo for someone my age but, because my overall health was good, gave me the option of considering it. I decided to forego chemo. The oncologist had said that, without chemo, the chances of the cancer reappearing would be 50% after 5 years. Chemo might reduce that to 40-45% – a small benefit for the likely side effects.
I’ve had follow-up PT Scans every 3 months since the surgery. Last summer they found a suspicious growth on my lung. It was biopsied and found to be cancerous. Two options were considered – either another surgery to remove the tumor or a series of radiation treatments. A panel of some 40 to 50 doctors at Sloan Kettering reviewed my case and recommended radiation. In July I had 5 radiation treatments, the after effects have been mild – loss of energy – or, put another way – some of my get up and go got up and left for a while.
Shortly thereafter I suffered a mild stroke. Then, last fall, I found blood in my urine. Again, back to Memorial Sloan Kettering, where I was diagnosed with bladder cancer. In December I had the top portion of my bladder removed.
At this point I’m convinced I won’t die from cancer, but of course that’s His call, not mine. I now claim to have successfully beaten 4 cancers in 7 years.
Lessons Learned:
- Listen to your wife!
- Always get a second opinion!
Feel free to give me a call if you have any questions – 610-737-1640.
