Original Message

A quick update: In Oct following a nagging cough I got a chest x-ray which exposed a very large mass in my left upper lung. This was followed by a CAT Scan, PET Scan and Biopsy all confirming that the big "C" was present.

Thanksgiving week started off with a 6 hour surgery of a "Robotic left upper lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection" in layman's terms " removal of the upper (half) lobe of the left lung and lymph's .. This was I'm happy to say all successful with all the lymph nodes coming back negative and the mass 6cm removed. So as of this Christmas Eve I am "Cancer Free" and more than a little grateful.

My original purpose in posting my circumstances was to highlight that a simple thing like an Chest x-Ray can save your life. The New Year is soon upon us so how about your resolution is to get one.

Footnote: I asked the surgeon back in October "What if I hadn't had an x-ray or I did nothing? He asked my birthday answer May, and with little pause he stated I probably would not see it!!!    

From my family to yours A Very Merry Christmas.