Patient Profile: The Power of Routine
Donna Smith was losing weight, very tired, and the persistent cough she had related to her COPD was worsening. Off to the doctor she went in the spring of 2022. The chest scan ordered by her primary physician revealed a cancerous tumor within her lungs. Donna was not surprised, as she had been a lifelong smoker, starting in her mid-teens, but the news was not good.
Knowing she would need an oncologist, Donna went to her keyboard, searching the internet for someone she could trust. When she came upon the Hope & Healing Cancer Services website, she stopped looking, “The name stood out to me,” Donna thought, “and the location so close to my home was a bonus.”
Donna remembers being given three options to treat her lung cancer – surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. Radiation was eliminated quickly, as the size and nature of the tumor was too large and diffuse, making the precision of radiation less effective. Chemotherapy was something Donna was adamantly opposed to, not wanting to endure the unknown aspects or the side effects.
Surgery it would be.
And it went well. Donna was told that the surgery team, “got the whole thing,” which was the news she had hoped to hear. Recovery, though, would be a hard road. Before her diagnosis, Donna weighed just 105 pounds. Coming out of surgery, she had dropped to 69 pounds, which would complicate her recovery.
After two weeks in the ICU, Donna transitioned to a rehab center to focus on building up her strength, gaining some of her weight back, and preparing to return home, which would need a few minor modifications for safety reasons.
Donna was very happy to be back. Like many people, she did not find institutional food to her liking. When a primary goal of recovery is to regain lost weight, not enjoying the food is a tricky thing. A visiting nurse came by twice a week to check on her progress and physical therapy was scheduled to begin.
Things were supposed to start looking up for Donna, but a depression was setting in, once again complicating her recovery. Donna took notice of her mood and symptoms and spoke to her primary physician right away. Anti-depressants were started after Donna described her depressed mood and problems with poor appetite and trouble sleeping. It is very common for patients to experience a depressive episode after a major health crisis. Donna was lucky to recognize her need for support and speak up early.
With things back on track, her depression managed, and weight coming back up, Donna was finally on a path back to a life that resembled the life she was living prior to her diagnosis. Cancer patients understand more than most the importance of routine and the challenges of having a routine upended by treatment.
The surgery behind her, Donna moved on to her next phase of treatment at Hope & Healing – two things she was greatly in need of given her experiences. After choosing not to pursue chemotherapy, Donna is seen at the clinic for quarterly chest scans and monitoring. She is followed by Dr. Srilata Gundala, owner and founder of Hope & Healing.
Donna has been very pleased with her care at Hope & Healing, “Dr. Gundala is wonderful. I was comfortable with her right away and decided at our first appointment that she was the oncologist for me.” Important to Donna was finding an oncologist who was not judgmental about treating a lung cancer patient with a history of smoking.
Donna returned to work in February 2023 and has now resumed her full-time schedule. Her work is remote and done from home, so her two cats, Nellie and Maddie, keep her company through the day, much like they did during her recovery. She is grateful for their presence and affection.
When asked if she had advice for other lung cancer patients, Donna is quick to advise, “Don’t smoke.” Quitting the life-long habit has been difficult. Donna also suggests, “Keep all your appointments and lean on family. I was so used to doing everything myself.”
Another important factor in Donna’s recovery was getting back to work. She has been in the same sales position for thirty years. The routine of work and meeting expectations was a boost for Donna when she needed it, “I like working, I always have.” Knowing what she needed, like the comfort and structure of routine, and reaching out for support for her symptoms has served Donna well.
Written By: Sheila Quirke, MSW
Reviewed By: Srilata Gundala, MD
