what it feels like: 'i'm not going to act sick' with stage 4 lung cancer
5 minute read
nancy iwachniuk (middle) knew something was wrong when she developed a dry cough.
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nancy iwachniuk, who lives with stage 4 lung cancer, sees each day as another chance to embrace life. her mom had passed away suddenly at the age of 65, so nancy — now 66 — sees her age as a gift denied to many.
lung cancer is the leading cause of death in the country, according to stats canada. roughly 50 per cent of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at stage four, when the cancer has spread to other areas of the body.
lung cancer diagnoses correlate with age: canadians aged 75 to 84 report the highest incidence rate (396 per 100,000 people). in older adults, men have a higher incidence rate than women, however, for adults under the age of 55, women are more likely to be diagnosed.
nancy spoke to healthing about the whirlwind that led to her diagnosis, contracting covid-19 and how she maintains her optimistic outlook on life.
this interview has been edited for length and clarity.
what led to your lung cancer diagnosis?
in the summer of 2021, i developed a dry cough, and it got to the point where i’d have to hold my left side [when i coughed], because the pain was bad. i couldn’t reach my family doctor, so i went to a walk-in clinic in cornwall. the doctor first thought it was shingles, because the pain was in my side, and it was red — [but that was] because i was holding it. then, two days later, he did an x-ray.
it was pretty scary. he said it looked like pneumonia, so he put me on antibiotics and then sent the result to my family doctor. a week later, on sept. 20, my family doctor ordered her own x-ray, and after that x-ray, there was a ct scan. on nov. 2, i was referred to the ottawa hospital and then, on nov. 22, i had an mri and a pet scan. november 30 was a biopsy. on dec. 15 i saw an oncologist and that was when i was diagnosed.
it just blew my mind. all that time, the only clue i had that it was cancer was my doctor had said they may do a biopsy. and when i heard “biopsy,” i thought, what the heck is going on? so i’m still thinking it’s maybe bad, but also thinking that i’m not sick enough to have cancer.
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that’s a whirlwind to go from ‘my rib hurts’ to ‘you have lung cancer.’ what went through your mind when you heard the diagnosis?
i was just blown away. i just lost it — how can i have stage 4, incurable lung cancer when i feel like this? a lot of people, when they’re diagnosed, are really sick. it’s all in your attitude — i think, anyway, for me. i’m not sick, so i’m not going to act sick.
what happened after you received your diagnosis?
so [i received my diagnosis on] december 15th. on dec. 17, i started [medication]: four capsules, 600 milligrams, twice a day. that’s my treatment. i’ve had no intravenous chemo, no radiation yet. i’ve met with a radiation doctor — he’s ready when i need it. but i don’t need it yet.
i’ve had fibromyalgia all my life too, and that’s a lot of aches and pains, right? so, i’m used to a lot of aches and pain.
i have a visit with my oncologist every six weeks. and every three months, approximately, i have a ct scan. they’re keeping track to see if it’s spreading. actually, after my last ct scan, everything was shrinking. this is a miracle drug, let me tell you. but the cost of it is [high] — i’m over 65, so that’s covered through ohip, thank goodness.
i’m anxious to see my next ct scan. it’ll probably be january.
nancy recently took up kayaking with her daughter, lisa. supplied
any side-effects?
no side-effects at all. that’s why i don’t feel like i’m sick.
you recently had covid-19 — what was that like while you are also being treated for lung cancer?
it was scary because i was really sick. my throat, my ears, the body aches, the sweat. i had all of that for [five to six days]. then i got that medicine for covid-19. it left an awful taste in my mouth, but i had it for five days.
how are you feeling now?
much better. i managed to get out — [i had been] housebound for 10 days. my daughter and i usually walk at least once a week. in the summer, we kayaked quite a bit. but i’m ok staying in. i like to read and crochet.
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so, you’re still physically active after all this?
yes! not as much as what my daughter would like — but i can’t keep up with her and i don’t want to.
[since i’ve been diagnosed], it’s not nice to say, but i’m a happier person — because i have something that’ll make me live a little longer. i’ve got lots to be thankful for. you know, if i give up, that’s a sad thing. to say, i’m going to give up.
i am 66. i’m happy to have lived this long. my poor mom passed away when she was 65. she had ten kids. she never complained. she was always happy. she got her first pension check, cashed it and passed away the next day — she didn’t even get a chance to spend it. that’s sad.
that’s the reason i don’t want to know how long i have to live. people ask me, how long do you have, how long have they given you? i don’t want to know, because if i know i only have a year, am i going to be happy in that year? or am i going to be depressed because i’m dying?
what do you do now in your daily life that brings you joy?
i crochet, i read. i’m working on crocheting slippers for christmas. i want to donate to the hospital too. the little hats for the newborns — i like making them. i’m busy. my husband and i, we keep each other going. he likes to cook, so i let him have the kitchen — i like to eat.
editor’s note from nancy — final note to all my family, children & grandchildren. thank you for you support and i am so proud of all of you.
nancy’s daughter, lisa wannamaker, also spoke to healthing about her experience supporting her mom through treatment.
to learn more about living with lung cancer, and to connect with others, check out lung cancer canada and canadian lung cancer advocacy — breathe hope.
emma jones is a multimedia editor with healthing. you can reach her at emjones@postmedia.com or on instagram and twitter @jonesyjourn.
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