Pulmonary Rehabilitation

January 11, 2008 I was shocking diagnosed with lung cancer by Mayo Clinic. I never smoked!
I was rushed into life saving VATS surgery. A tumor and my left lung lobe was removed. A wedge of my lower left lung was also removed.

My loving husband stood by my bedside and said, breath, breath, breath for five hours post surgery.

I soon realized that anybody at any age can get lung cancer. The stigma is horrible!!! Insurance required I attend nicotine rehab.

I was invited into a Mayo Clinic three month “paced breathing research study” by Dr Amit Sood.

I encourage people to listen to his Ted Talk. Read his books, HAPPINESS for one. I live because of the mind, brain, body Attention Interpretation Therapy I have been taught by Dr Amit Sood.

I prefer to look at my journey as though Lung Cancer Became my Blessing.

I have to keep breathing properly and moving to strengthen my diaphragm...or I cannot breath.

I never ran before lung cancer. Three years post surgery I began running. Perhaps I was running from the stigma when I decided to run a 5k race in all 50 states. I also want desperately to help save lungs & lives and let physicians know how valuable their hard work truly is! I am running a 10k in every continent.
Lung cancer deaths will hit 1 Billion in this centry!

I submitted Mt Kilimanjaro August 2016, “Kili Climb” with Mayo Clinic Research Team, led by Dr Bruce Johnson and Dr Jan Stapanek. I paced breath with every step I take.

I am not bragging. I am hoping to give hope for a misunderstood disease called lung cancer and help people understand the importance of lung research.

Few words can express my deep and sincere appreciation for you becoming a part of Lung Cancer on Connect. Your knowledge is desperately needed. I commend you for your writing and strength to be a most valuable voice!

I hope to meet you in person. Boston is a great city! My husband and I flew for NWA now Delta we were based in BOS ‘88-90;-) I was born in Portland, Maine. I feel we have a lot in common. You are my inspiration!
Bless you.
Sincerely,

WOWOW- You are quite a success story with this type of program! I finally joined a group this past year after 4 lung cancers. I tried the group after my first cancer in 1997 but so much was going on- like being shocked at having cancer, and all that comes with it, that I dropped out. This past year I did it after my last cancer from a year ago and I loved it. I met new people and learned new ways to achieve breathing that I thought was out of my reach. I applaud your successes. Thank you for sharing your story

My husband has COPD and a Stage 4 cancer (in his lung) but they are not sure it's lung cancer. It's a cancer of 'unknown primary/type'. He was referred some time ago to pulmonary rehab but we haven't made that step yet. Has it helped you?? Keep me posted if you can. If it works for you I'd like to get him to that after the first of the year and see if it can help.

I am so sorry to hear about your husband's cancer. It's shocking to hear that you have cancer but very confusing when the medical profession can't find the primary site. Pulmonary rehab is wonderful. It was like a whole new world opened up to me! I can now walk up and down the stairs without sounding like I'm in trouble. People with every type of lung problems were at mine. It was my pulmonologist who recommended it. Perhaps ask your doctor if your husband is ready. There need not be any time caps - like a year or six months. Some people go early on and others, like me waited. Please let me know how you make out. PS: There were also people there who were on oxygen!

Thank you for your reply and the info!! I think we'll sign up for that starting in January. We weren't sure if it would really help but it sounds like it's a big help. Happy Thanksgiving to you!

You are most welcome Cindy. I am so happy to hear that you will try. You might need a doctor's referral so check on that. Happy Thanksgiving to you too!

Linda, You had mentioned his Ted Talk on breathing over the summer and I found a few of his talks on You Tube and listened to one that was very good but I couldn't find this. Do you know where to look or specifically what the name of it is? Thanks!

I have stage 3 COPD and am on oxygen 24/7. After hearing that rehab helps people like me, I asked my pulmonologist to refer me to rehab. I went to our local hospital and went through their stage one program, it's helped immensely. This week I start stage two, where I pay a nominal fee to continue. I plan on continuing as long as I can - my breath and stamina have improved.

@annhd -Isn't it great! And when we improve we feel so much better, more confidence and more of a sense of well being!

@cindylb- Hi Cindy. Happy new year! I have been wondering if you have felt up to joining a pulmonary rehab group? How is your husband feeling?