Pam Moffit, 5-year stage IV lung cancer survivor

“It’s all been up to me. I have six different doctors right now, but no one directs me from point A to point B.”

Pam Moffitt is a 5-year survivor of stage IV non-small cell lung cancer from Sioux City, Iowa. In the fall of 2003, Pam visited Mayo Clinic after suffering through another sinus infection. Several tests confirmed that what was thought to be pneumonia turned out to be an 8 cm tumor – the size of a large lemon – on her left lung.

Pam immediately underwent mediastinal surgery to remove lymph nodes in her chest and beneath her breast bone.  After the surgery, Pam endured an additional thoracic surgery, 32 consecutive rounds of radiation, three consecutive rounds of chemotherapy, and numerous tests and procedures. In all, Pam was in active treatment for about nine months.

Upon completing the grueling treatment regimen, Pam continued on with her life as a survivor – but like so many survivors, she didn’t have any kind of care plan. She hadn’t received a written summary of her treatments and wasn’t sure what to expect post-treatment. Thanks to the encouragement of a good friend who was also an oncology nurse, she knew to ask her doctors specific questions about post-treatment procedures. She was also advised to get copies of every written document she could: appointment cards, medical bills, lab test and scan results. Pam took it upon herself to chronicle her treatment by filing all of the documents into a photo album journal.

Regardless of Pam’s efforts to create her own piece by piece treatment summary, she was unaware of the extent of post-treatment health issues she would soon encounter. Pam was surprised to find she was anxious and depressed, so she began taking anti-depression medication. She also experienced problems with her thyroid function as a result of the radiation, and she continues to experience left arm pain where one of her cysts was removed.

Pam’s story demonstrates the value of exercising self-advocacy to do the research and speak up about one’s treatment.  “I knew to ask for tests that I thought were important,” she says.  But coordination between the doctors from Mayo Clinic and her local hometown cancer center has been difficult. “It’s all been up to me. I have six different doctors right now, but no one directs me from point A to point B.” 

 

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Submitted by: susan chapin
February 23, 2010

My Mother finished 6 rounds of chemo - avastin, carboplatin, taxotere Dec. 17,2009. Three weeks later she began avastin as a maintenance therapy every three weeks. She has had a doppler ultra sound, head to toe ct scan showing no mets. Her tumor has decreased to about 2 mm with only a shadow appearing where several lymph nodes mid-chest were affected. Three weeks ago she began experiencing severe upper right arm pain - painful to lift it, dressing, etc., her doctor prescribed 6 days of prednisone which caused the pain to subside. Now, 2 weeks later, the pain is present again. She has profound fatigue, sleeping approximately 14-16 hours a day. Her platelets read between 48 and 67.4. Her doctor sent her for 2 units of platelets last week. How can I help her? I know the chemo treatments have really worn her out, but,the uphill climb out of the after effects of her treatment are difficult to manage. Please help us. Thank you.

 

Submitted by: sheila whitis
January 25, 2010

i have a husband who is a 5 year survior of lung cancer, stage3b and non-small cell, had 25 rounds of radiation and 3 chemos surgery to remove one lobe of the right lung and lymph nodes and the tumor was a major surgery taking out 4 ribs, painful and still to this day his life has never been without pain and he goes to pain clinics, he ery tiny he weighs abou 118lbs. he is always ill never wants to leave the house. always is bed because of his pain he cant eat without pain in abdomen, or getting sick. he is 48 years old.

 

Submitted by: Tonya Stephens
January 14, 2010

For all of the many tests and trials you have met and gone through, God allow you to be an angel to build and rebuild the spirits of others. You go Girl!!!

 

Submitted by: Susan Levin
December 15, 2009

The twists and turns of a cancer diagnosis often makes for unlikely "bedfellows". I met Pam as a result of her lung cancer diagnosis and my experience as my late mother's caregiver. I have come to admire and appreciate her spirit and her committment. She has become an inspiration for other lung cancer surviors and others in the cancer advocacy orbit.

SURVIVOR PROFILES

Marian Malloy Blackman, 13-year breast cancer survivor

"This treatment summary and plan is concise and easy. It’s like having someone go through my medical record and extract all the most pertinent information and translate it into an easily readable packet."
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