I am also a nonsmoker diagnosed with lung cancer. Thank you for sharing your story. Your ability to self-advocate is so inspiring and also, thanks for sharing the four mental stages you go through - survival, recovery, healing and growth. This is SO accurate!! I think I already do this, remind myself in each stage that it's temporary, but labeling it and seeing that others with a cancer diagnosis go through this is helpful. Be well, Friend. ❤
When I hear the patients in these stories say that their doctors reply that there is nothing wrong because the patient is young and ‘healthy’ I find it ridiculous. Everyone on this planet starts out young and most start out healthy. When the patient presents to the doctor with their concerns and symptoms the doctor now needs to shift from that rigid thinking to thinking outside the box. And that always starts with actually listening and hearing what the patient is saying. Then, rather than dismissing the concerns with labels such as young and healthy, the diagnostician/doctor needs to investigate and get to the source of the patients concerns. This seems so basic, yet the young and healthy words blind some doctors. (Clubbing of fingers certainly is a significant sign) Thanks for telling your story Ashley. Wishing you and your little boys all the best.
They’re also ignoring that we live in a toxic filled world today. We’ve grown up surrounded by chemicals, something that has never been the norm for humans in thousands of years. In terms of non smoker lung cancer, I personally believe that a lot of these are due to people being exposed to Radon, which is a silent killer.
When you are a provider you’re taught to look for the most likely diagnosis and not chase the ‘zebras.’ I, however, am not slow to order diagnostic testing when there is a red flag. I feel conspicuous when I do so but it it’s a safe test and the pt wants it and there is a justifiable reason who am I to say no 🤷🏼♀️
I watched one of these recently and the person’s insurance company would not pay for a colonoscopy because they weren’t 50 years old in spite of symptoms . Ridiculous. By the time they finally did one the cancer was advanced.
Sorry for your ordeal. It is terrible to have cancer having 2 small children to take care of. Hope your family is supporting you. God helps you to get through this.
You truly inspire me in so many ways! As a breast cancer survivor living with a chronic illness like ulcerative colitis, I understand how challenging life can be. Remember, you are not defined by your illness but by the incredible resilience and strength you possess. Keep fighting and believing in brighter tomorrows. I wish you all the BEST!❤❤
Ashley, I wish you the very best. I am sorry your concerns were dismissed for such a long time. You are your own best doctor at the end of the day. Keep fighting for your health. I am sending you love from Africa.
Thank You so so much for sharing your story. I Pray you are doing well. I believe STRESS is the underlying cause. I remember my Moms doctor showing me a study when my mom was diagnosed with lung cancer. It said “ Cancer is not a disease….its a symptom. The first symptom was STRESS! My momma was ALWAYS stressed and a worry wart. 💔💔💔🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Why should it take so long to diagnose something so obvious, with so many misdiagnoses. Why do doctors not listen to the person who knows her/his own body better than the doctor ever could understand the patient's health I wish this woman the very best in her treatment journey. I hope she will be as well as possible.
The reason she was misdiagnosed with such serious symptoms is that she was YOUNG , FEMALE , NOnSMOKER . There are serious bias in medicine including thinking that anyone young ( or female) can have as life threatening illness. Your BMI is neither high or low so you must be healthy ???!! What absolute BULLS__!!. 😢😮 So sorry for your diagnosis and the missed diagnosis. This could be due to pollution, suggest being evaluated for toxins ( this wld be functional medicine and probably put of pocket).
I told my Gyno I had uterine cancer, textbook example. She got mad and barked at me "Where did you go to medical school"? I have insurance. It was no skin off her nose, yet she refused to take a tissue sample. Three doctors later, all women who didnt believe me, I found a male Gyno who confirmed my cancer. I insisted on a male Oncologist who specialized in Reproductive Cancer. He took great care of me. My heart failure means I cant have anesthesia so no hysterectomy. I had radiation and now my bowel is haywire. Cancer is back. Ive had D&Cs with implanted IUDs. Its been 18 years. Im still here. Everytime it comes back we attack it. Not cured, but not dead either. Do Not Be Bullied.
@@queenbee3647 Thank you for sharing what maybe spare others your experience, which may save lives of those who read your story. I'll keep you in my thoughts, wishing you the best health possible under your circumstances. I'm so grateful you had the fortitude and persistence to survive the medical neglect to find better quality care..✨
You are awesome. You keep yourself together soooo well. I hope all goes well for you and let God be with you. I think I have cancer and I'm to scared 😨😳 to go find out thanks for sharing your experience
Thank you for sharing your experience with us, you will help a lots of people who has a similar symptoms, I have a similar misdiagnosis, anxiety, asthma,😢🥲. I wish you all the best 🇦🇺🍀🙏
I am so impressed with your descriptive summary of your experience with cancer. Thank you for sharing and good luck with your recovery. You are amazing!
Wow, you really went through it trying to get it diagnosed. You look great - so vibrant and healthy! I wish you all the luck in the world for a full recovery!
I am amazed at how well you are doing! I also went through the exact same scenario - diagnosed with bronchitis and pneumonia and asthma and panic attacks until i could hardly breathe any longer! In reality i have large cell neuroendocrine lung cancer. Inoperable. No genetic markers or mutations so did chemo and rads and that is all I can do now except wait for it to spread. Never smoker. Radiation for breast cancer suspected to be the cause. Totally bummed to have beat breast cancer only to face this. I am stage 3B. I am so happy for you. I hope you continue to do well!
The same can be said for being overweight. It doesn't matter what your symptom is, most doctors blame it on your weight. Thank you for sharing your experience. Your comments on self advocacy are so important. I was in the hospital after surgery for over a month with a high fever of an unknown source. I knew that something wasn't right. In hindsight I realize that I was telling different doctors and nurses different pieces of the puzzle. It wasn't until my family doctor came by to see me that I broke down and told him everything. Finally, one person had the whole picture, and my severe pleural effusion was diagnosed in a couple of hours. Now I have a health journal. I write any symptoms down with ratings and dates. Also record the medications and supplements I take with dosages and length of time on them. If something rises to the level of concern, when I go to my doctor, I can be detailed. Though I am very conscious of that fine line between vigilant and hypochondriac. Wishing you the best in your health journey. ❤️ Your determination and courage are inspiring!
Self advocacy is vital, I fear for the elderly and weak who's voice is not as strong as younger patients - remember to the health system you're just a number printed on your wrist band - but to you and your family you are the world. Fight fight fight (politely, but with conviction) - no one knows your own body better than you, trust your gut - you may be wrong sometimes but never give up ❤
Thank you for also mentioning the biased that comes with lung cancer. People say OH HE OR SHE MUST HAVE SMOKED. I also read a few yrs ago that the ALCA only gives 3 percent of donations to Lung cancer because they felt most were self inflicted. Thank you for your video and sharing your journey. You are a beautiful young lady and may God heal you so you can still smile your lovely smile in this world because we need it. ❤️❤️🙏🙏
After smoking, another big cause of lung cancer is radioactive radon gas seeping into your home's basement. Some locations in the US have more radon than others. And if your washer and dryer are in the basement, you could be wearing radioactive clothing and sleeping on radioactive bedding and not know it!
Back around 1972, my dad had me memorize the 7 warning signs of cancer, and difficulty swallowing is one of them. There may be many more than 7 & the list may be different in 2024 of course. Remember that if you have lungs, you can get cancer of those lungs- it doesn't matter if you fit the typical "profile" of a lung cancer patient or not. In 2009 i was diagnosed with bladder cancer (i actually made an appt with my doctor & told him what i thought it was), & i did not fit any of the parameters of the typical bladder cancer patient, but i knew. Good luck with your treatment!
Hope u recover all the way, looks like u had lots of support, which is a blessing. Having 2 kids, going through all these. There are people going through so much sickness without family support. God bless.
Good grief, it takes so damn long for them to get to the bottom of everything! Everything should be taken seriously, just because you “look healthy” doesn’t mean you are. We have to push for ourselves no matter what. I’m currently going through something myself, not Cancer, but I have a 2nd opinion coming up this week out of state. Stand up ladies (and men). We know our own bodies! God Bless you young lady. You are so smart and beautiful! Warrior!!!
As an RN myself I question any and all doctors that I see, but usually it is not well received, like you said you don’t want to sound like your second guessing or questioning their determinations, but I’m not their to make friends I’m their to get answers. I hope you make a full recovery and wish you all the best.
at the same time our healthcare system is healing a lot of people! definitely important to advocate and seek multiple opinions until you receive an answer that you're comfortable with.
This is the perfect example of why you have to advocate for yourself from day one. That means if you know your symptoms, you don’t except a diagnosis that is wrong. You knew what it was from day 1. People you have to be your own advocate from day 1. Every minute, hour and day count and make a difference with a cancer diagnosis.
Knowing Healing and Wholeness in and as every aspect of your Body, Mind and Spirit - All Bodily Systems recognizing their Divine Blueprint of Perfection with Ease and in Grace! Holding you in the Light - knowing every step of your journey is empowering and revealing to you what is needed in the next one. And Knowing that all that you need is revealed to you in every moment - and that you are fully expressing your Magnificence beyond your Wildest Human Imaginings in every step. Sending Love and Light to you and your Family!
It baffles me that doctors would order a couple of blood tests and tell you that nothing was wrong. It's so obvious to me that you should've gotten lung scans pretty much immediately. I've heard a similar story so many times. Routine bloodwork is normal - so you must just be anxious!
I remember watching an episode of Mystery Diagnosis of a woman complaining of difficulty breathing for several years. In all that time no one gave her a lung scan. By the time she had an xray, one lung had collapsed and the other one was partially functioning due to undiagnosed Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
@@smfarrie2943 Most likely if you complain of difficulty breathing, they'll automatically diagnose you with "asthma", prescribe an inhaler, and send you home. Without even doing any tests. (In my case, the methacholine challenge test--the gold standard of asthma tests--was negative, but that didn't matter. Eventually, it turned out I had a very rare serious lung condition that some doctors and nurses never heard of.)
You are correct cancer can hit anyone at Any age 😮 Our 7 yr old son had been complaining that his knee hurt 😞 he played baseball and football but our family dr wanted to see him and hubby took him and the dr said he did not want to GUESS so X-ray the next day after work I stopped by the dr office he showed me The X-ray and said That is a tumor and I do not know what kind 😞😩😩🏈💔💔 I fell to my knees HYSTERICAL I KNEW THE LIFE WE HAD WAS GONE
I can completely relate to the treatment by doctors. When I had crushing fatigue I was told over and over that it was because a had a young baby. They ignored that he was sleeping through the night. They ignored my joint pain, muscle pain, and all the things that I was suffering with. I was too young to be sick and, many of them were nice, but they didn’t listen or try to dig deeper to find answers when bloodwork didn’t show anything. I hope soon, they will start to listen.
I’d been diagnosed with early stage emphysema several years back. Back in 2022, I went to the ER with what I thought was a mild case of the flu. I’d taken a home COVID test the day before that was negative but, guess what, it was COVID. Since my clotting factors were a bit high, they decided to do a CT scan. I was glad because I needed one after they caught the emphysema on a CT for something else, but because I wasn’t 50 yet (I was close, I was 49) they wouldn’t give it to me even though I’d been a smoker for over 30 years. Honestly, getting COVID was a good thing at that point, I got the lung CT I needed. Then the doctor came in and I didn’t like the look on his face… He said there was a nodule in my right lung and he tried to down play it by saying that sometimes a bump is just a bump. I still cried… I got in for a PET scan once I was clear from COVID, it was 5 days before Christmas… I was sweating it for hours, waiting for those results. When I read that all signs point to it being benign, I broke down and cried. My husband had to ask to be sure that benign meant not cancer before I saw him tear up. That was the greatest gift I got that year. Now I go every 6 months for a CT to make sure it hasn’t grown any. If it has, it’s not much. It’s currently a little bigger than a cheerio (I wish they wouldn’t use food as a size comparison, it’s weird telling people I have a cheerio in my lung) and I hope it stays that way. I got lucky that they caught the weird thing in my lung and didn’t dismiss it like they dismiss my other issues because I happen to be a psychiatric patient (bipolar, anxiety, PTSD). And if it wasn’t for COVID, they never would have caught it… It sounds weird to say COVID was good to me, but in my case it really was. It got me that much needed CT scan I was a year too young to get (despite the fact that I had good reason for needing it, having emphysema and being a smoker) and it found that nodule. Oh, and I finally managed to quit smoking last October. It took a long time to do it, but I’m over a year smoke free, I’m happy to say. 😊 I’ll be sending good vibes that her story has a happy ending. It’s been such a rough road, like everyone’s with the way healthcare and insurance is today. I don’t know why everything has to be so complicated. Just treat the patients, don’t make it all about what’s covered and what isn’t. Do what’s necessary, don’t dismiss symptoms as stress or anxiety. Do your jobs, uphold that oath of do no harm and stop making it all shit this happy crap. We’re patients, real people, not just numbers.
When I hear of non smokers getting lung cancer, the first thing that I think of is Radon Gas. Every state in the country has some Radon and some have higher levels than others. You can't see it or smell it. It is the leading environmental cause of lung cancer. Everyone should have their home tested. I'm not a doctor or scientist but have experienced this terrible disease with my late wife. Thank you for your story and courage. God bless.
Why more non smoking and younger people are getting lung cancer 😢? Or is it about cancer in general 😢? Do we have any statistics or explanation? I'm so sorry for this beautiful woman and I wish her all the best ❤
Way to be your own advocate! 25+ years ago my bf's 5 yr old daughter had a droopy eye & other symptoms. Her research pointed to a brain tumor. She was practically laughed out of the ophthalmologist office. The ER wouldn't door an MRI, she planted herself and said you are going to need to call the police to drag me away. Finally, as she stood behind the technologist, He stopped to reach for the phone and she saw what he saw on the screen and flipped out. Stage 4 glioblastoma. Trust your instincts.
Im a non smoker diagnosed with an early stage lung cancer last year. It was an incidental finding. I have no symptoms at all, i dont get sick, no cough but still got cancer. I had lobectomy January of this year, since no spread- im back to my normal life. I have incoming scan this Jan, in God's grace im expecting a good result
@@pam164 I have had stage 2 COPD for a few years even when I smoked but. I really haven't had any trouble breathing or getting my breath. Actually my lungs feel good and my doctor say they sound good I do have to have a CT scan every year because of being a x smoker and they want to be able to catch it in time.
@bobs1356 It tends to progress normally. My mother passed with that , she was in her 40s when she passed. She couldn't breath straight away and it just got worse where she couldn't breath at all. She was a very light smoker but still got it. I think at 74 just getting it now you have been lucky.
@@ldjt6184 no I was about 27 when I started. I would quit for awhile and start up again quit. I quit for good it was to expensive. I see my neighbor across the street from me in his 80's still smoking. Oh well I guess some of us don't have the cancer genes.
The medical community blames smoking for a bunch of different cancers. My late husband had bladder cancer and never smoked..the died 6 years after his bladder cancer due to pancreatic cancer that had spread to his liver as well.
Thank you for sharing. Did your bloodwork not show anything ? before you got the CT scan. Later stage lung cancer often give elevated calcium levels. ?
I have the same cancer, I am older than you, never smoked either, I am asthmatic so having a cough and not swallowing my doctor said there was nothing wrong ii was when covid was about, also thevswollen legs and ankles but not the fingers, no chemo or radium I have been taking tarigsso fir two years and most of mine in my lungs have gone I still have one in my right lung but shrinking, I am in australia
Hi, I haven’t been diagnosed with Cancer yet, but I’m trying to find a Dr. that will take me serious that something is wrong with my Body. I have Severe unintentional Weight loss. Bad Fatigue, some Nausea here and there. I guess an overall sense of Malice? I weigh 125Lbs now. I’m 5’ 11” Tall, I’m 63 Yo Male, and my regular Weight is 175-185Lbs. I have a lot of Back problems, with 4 Fusions in my Neck. And 2 in my lower Back. I just had MRIs and I need 3 more Fusions in my lower Back. I now have a Syrinx attached to another Tumor of Unknown Origin at the T10 Level in my Spinal Cord. A Hyper tense Atypical Hemangioma at my T4 Vertebrate. I don’t know if these are causing all my problems and can’t seem to get an answer from my Dr.s. They just keep saying I need to see a Different Dr. ?????? I also can’t feel any Hunger?? When I tell the Dr.s that, they look at me like that’s impossible? I just never feel Hunger even if I don’t eat? I wish I could find an Answer to something??? I really hope you are Cancer free. You’re a Beautiful young Woman with 2 Beautiful Kids, and deserve to have a Happy wonderful Life. I wish you the very best and will definitely add you in my Prayers. God Loves you and I hope you talk to him for Forgiveness and Healing. God does Amazing things, but you have to Pray for them to happen.😁❤️
I hate that the media , medical community makes people believe that if they don’t smoke they don’t have to worry about lung cancer . That gives people a false sense of security. I have known lots of people with lung cancer and only about 4 out of those people smoked . And out all the older people I’ve known that smoked only those four developed lung cancer . People need to know that lung cancer is not just for smokers .
I can't get over the fact that drs themselves could be so dismissive and ignorant to the patient and the physical symptoms they're literally showing. ive seen many times the explanation by drs to patient on why they don't scan for tumors right away is because insurance companies would be "overloaded" and that it would bankrupt insurance companies. WHAT the hell!!!!!!!!!!! plus, if the case is as simple as they don't want to approve and spend money on scans and treatments, why do they approve all the other UNnecessary things that delay care. And then it's worse for everyone, most of which sadly is always the patient. amazing persistence and patience to Ashley for advocating for the truth, even though it should've never been that way
Doctors are a big part of this myth. I have been diagnosed with asthmatic bronchitis at thirteen and still to this day I struggle to breath all the time even with medication. I've also had chest CT's and in 2016 they found two nodules two and one millimeter each. I had two year follow up scans and they remain stable. Even my pulmonologist has perpetuated this belief that non smokers don't have to worry about lung cancer.
I'm so sorry this happened to you. It makes me so angry when I hear about the many ways that women are dismissed in healthcare. The answer is always. You're too thin. You're too fat. You're too stressed. You don't exercise enough. You exercise too much. I wonder if men are treated the same way.
What is it going to take to get these Drs to take their patients seriously? Story after story of people at the mercy of a person who should know better!! Not only do they waste precious time for these patients, they waste money by ignoring the symptoms so that they have to go to Dr after Dr, ER visits, etc.. We SHOULD trust that this person who attended many, many years of schooling to know MORE than we do. That just isn't the case alot of times obviously. Not only is it frustrating, it is SCARY!!!
Wish you the best! Take care cause your lung limits- i suspect- is far more than a normal human: You exercise many years which means that your symptoms delay. But when they come present, its a little bit something to worry about. What is doctors prediction; what you have to do;
the problem here is med professionals not listening to patient.. its likely because they see themselves as educated and professional, which they are, but also see the patient as not educated in medicine. But they sometimes forget I think that the patient has their nervous system plugged into that body 24/7 and lives with it.. and has lived with it for their entire life.. they know that body better than they ever will.. so when a patient says they believe something isnt right.. they need to investigate the worst case scenario.
Why are all of these stories the same? Doctors act like they know so much more than you and when it comes to cancer they don’t know shit. I was horrified how I was treated and misdiagnosed only to find out that it is the norm, not the exception with most cancer victims. I feel like more of a victim of the medical industry than cancer itself. If you suspect ANYTHING is wrong with your body, never let a doctor tell you otherwise.
She is very well spoken and communicates very well, but I was curious about that too... Of course the message that she is passing is much more important, but I was just curious as well...
Don't know where you are but in the uk the only people that are being checked early are people that smoked or smoke. So if you get lung cancer here you are probably stumped as it is likely to be found late if a none smoker!
And it’s in the food and then they wait until it get bad before they want to treat you it’s a wait and see and oh it’s bad now let’s treat versus preventing it earlier on. As well as chemicals
I 100% believe in self advocacy, but really hoping that people hearing her do not think it is a good idea to doctor shop until you find someone who will agree to give you a treatment that *you* think is best, In the absence of posessing a degree in medicine and a license to practice. Yes ask questions, yes inquire about certain lines of treatment, but she literally said that she wants the treatment she wants and if she does not get it she will find a doctor elsewhere who is willing to do it.
I am also a nonsmoker diagnosed with lung cancer. Thank you for sharing your story. Your ability to self-advocate is so inspiring and also, thanks for sharing the four mental stages you go through - survival, recovery, healing and growth. This is SO accurate!! I think I already do this, remind myself in each stage that it's temporary, but labeling it and seeing that others with a cancer diagnosis go through this is helpful. Be well, Friend. ❤
Ashley is a force in our community. She is an amazing advocate and has helped so many other people with lung cancer. Hope you're doing well.
I don’t understand why lung cancer is on the rise among non-smokers.
@@YoungLungCancer I just realized she is a part of our Young Lung Cancer FB Group, as am I. Thank you for this advocacy work you are all are doing!!
@@DanceAlongGal 🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍
@@user-yn9mx7xu1r it’s the million dollar question
I lost a dear friend to lung cancer. He was 40. This was one of the best Patient Stories episodes yet.
When I hear the patients in these stories say that their doctors reply that there is nothing wrong because the patient is young and ‘healthy’ I find it ridiculous. Everyone on this planet starts out young and most start out healthy. When the patient presents to the doctor with their concerns and symptoms the doctor now needs to shift from that rigid thinking to thinking outside the box. And that always starts with actually listening and hearing what the patient is saying. Then, rather than dismissing the concerns with labels such as young and healthy, the diagnostician/doctor needs to investigate and get to the source of the patients concerns. This seems so basic, yet the young and healthy words blind some doctors. (Clubbing of fingers certainly is a significant sign)
Thanks for telling your story Ashley. Wishing you and your little boys all the best.
Doctors are only practicing their craft. People forget that. Thankfully electricians aren't just practicing
They’re also ignoring that we live in a toxic filled world today. We’ve grown up surrounded by chemicals, something that has never been the norm for humans in thousands of years.
In terms of non smoker lung cancer, I personally believe that a lot of these are due to people being exposed to Radon, which is a silent killer.
@@Official-Comments be nice if government regulators served the people instead of the industries they are supposed to regulate
When you are a provider you’re taught to look for the most likely diagnosis and not chase the ‘zebras.’ I, however, am not slow to order diagnostic testing when there is a red flag. I feel conspicuous when I do so but it it’s a safe test and the pt wants it and there is a justifiable reason who am I to say no 🤷🏼♀️
I watched one of these recently and the person’s insurance company would not pay for a colonoscopy because they weren’t 50 years old in spite of symptoms . Ridiculous. By the time they finally did one the cancer was advanced.
Sorry for your ordeal. It is terrible to have cancer having 2 small children to take care of. Hope your family is supporting you. God helps you to get through this.
thank you for sending her well wishes!
You truly inspire me in so many ways! As a breast cancer survivor living with a chronic illness like ulcerative colitis, I understand how challenging life can be. Remember, you are not defined by your illness but by the incredible resilience and strength you possess. Keep fighting and believing in brighter tomorrows. I wish you all the BEST!❤❤
thank you for sharing that advice!
Ashley, I wish you the very best. I am sorry your concerns were dismissed for such a long time. You are your own best doctor at the end of the day. Keep fighting for your health. I am sending you love from Africa.
we are glad her story is reaching people all over the world!
Thank You so so much for sharing your story. I Pray you are doing well. I believe STRESS is the underlying cause. I remember my Moms doctor showing me a study when my mom was diagnosed with lung cancer. It said “ Cancer is not a disease….its a symptom. The first symptom was STRESS! My momma was ALWAYS stressed and a worry wart. 💔💔💔🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Why should it take so long to diagnose something so obvious, with so many misdiagnoses. Why do doctors not listen to the person who knows her/his own body better than the doctor ever could understand the patient's health I wish this woman the very best in her treatment journey. I hope she will be as well as possible.
The reason she was misdiagnosed with such serious symptoms is that she was YOUNG , FEMALE , NOnSMOKER . There are serious bias in medicine including thinking that anyone young ( or female) can have as life threatening illness. Your BMI is neither high or low so you must be healthy ???!! What absolute BULLS__!!. 😢😮 So sorry for your diagnosis and the missed diagnosis. This could be due to pollution, suggest being evaluated for toxins ( this wld be functional medicine and probably put of pocket).
I told my Gyno I had uterine cancer, textbook example. She got mad and barked at me "Where did you go to medical school"? I have insurance. It was no skin off her nose, yet she refused to take a tissue sample. Three doctors later, all women who didnt believe me, I found a male Gyno who confirmed my cancer. I insisted on a male Oncologist who specialized in Reproductive Cancer. He took great care of me. My heart failure means I cant have anesthesia so no hysterectomy. I had radiation and now my bowel is haywire. Cancer is back. Ive had D&Cs with implanted IUDs. Its been 18 years. Im still here. Everytime it comes back we attack it. Not cured, but not dead either. Do Not Be Bullied.
@@queenbee3647 Thank you for sharing what maybe spare others your experience, which may save lives of those who read your story. I'll keep you in my thoughts, wishing you the best health possible under your circumstances. I'm so grateful you had the fortitude and persistence to survive the medical neglect to find better quality care..✨
You are awesome. You keep yourself together soooo well. I hope all goes well for you and let God be with you. I think I have cancer and I'm to scared 😨😳 to go find out thanks for sharing your experience
Thank you for sharing your experience with us, you will help a lots of people who has a similar symptoms, I have a similar misdiagnosis, anxiety, asthma,😢🥲. I wish you all the best 🇦🇺🍀🙏
I am so impressed with your descriptive summary of your experience with cancer. Thank you for sharing and good luck with your recovery. You are amazing!
we are so grateful for brave souls like hers that will share their stories!
Wow, you really went through it trying to get it diagnosed. You look great - so vibrant and healthy! I wish you all the luck in the world for a full recovery!
I am amazed at how well you are doing!
I also went through the exact same scenario - diagnosed with bronchitis and pneumonia and asthma and panic attacks until i could hardly breathe any longer! In reality i have large cell neuroendocrine lung cancer. Inoperable. No genetic markers or mutations so did chemo and rads and that is all I can do now except wait for it to spread. Never smoker. Radiation for breast cancer suspected to be the cause. Totally bummed to have beat breast cancer only to face this. I am stage 3B.
I am so happy for you. I hope you continue to do well!
The same can be said for being overweight. It doesn't matter what your symptom is, most doctors blame it on your weight.
Thank you for sharing your experience. Your comments on self advocacy are so important. I was in the hospital after surgery for over a month with a high fever of an unknown source. I knew that something wasn't right. In hindsight I realize that I was telling different doctors and nurses different pieces of the puzzle. It wasn't until my family doctor came by to see me that I broke down and told him everything. Finally, one person had the whole picture, and my severe pleural effusion was diagnosed in a couple of hours. Now I have a health journal. I write any symptoms down with ratings and dates. Also record the medications and supplements I take with dosages and length of time on them. If something rises to the level of concern, when I go to my doctor, I can be detailed. Though I am very conscious of that fine line between vigilant and hypochondriac.
Wishing you the best in your health journey. ❤️ Your determination and courage are inspiring!
so glad you found a doctor you had a good relationship with!
Self advocacy is vital, I fear for the elderly and weak who's voice is not as strong as younger patients - remember to the health system you're just a number printed on your wrist band - but to you and your family you are the world. Fight fight fight (politely, but with conviction) - no one knows your own body better than you, trust your gut - you may be wrong sometimes but never give up ❤
great advice!
Take care my friend. I will keep you in my prayers.
thank you for sending her well wishes!
Thank you for also mentioning the biased that comes with lung cancer. People say OH HE OR SHE MUST HAVE SMOKED. I also read a few yrs ago that the ALCA only gives 3 percent of donations to Lung cancer because they felt most were self inflicted. Thank you for your video and sharing your journey. You are a beautiful young lady and may God heal you so you can still smile your lovely smile in this world because we need it. ❤️❤️🙏🙏
After smoking, another big cause of lung cancer is radioactive radon gas seeping into your home's basement. Some locations in the US have more radon than others. And if your washer and dryer are in the basement, you could be wearing radioactive clothing and sleeping on radioactive bedding and not know it!
Thanks!
Thankyou for sharing. As a RN, I agree with you as a self advocate! Hopefully others will watch this and learn from your experience
thank you for listening!
Back around 1972, my dad had me memorize the 7 warning signs of cancer, and difficulty swallowing is one of them. There may be many more than 7 & the list may be different in 2024 of course. Remember that if you have lungs, you can get cancer of those lungs- it doesn't matter if you fit the typical "profile" of a lung cancer patient or not. In 2009 i was diagnosed with bladder cancer (i actually made an appt with my doctor & told him what i thought it was), & i did not fit any of the parameters of the typical bladder cancer patient, but i knew.
Good luck with your treatment!
What other the other six ?
Non-small cell lung cancer seems to be quite common for young people in California who never smoked. I wonder what's going on there.
Yes..Jenny Apple too..devastating.
I was thinking the same thing 😮
Chemtrails in the sky.
@@andreabontempo643chemtrails only affect young women ?? 😒
@@smfarrie2943 exactly, it is absurd.
We all must be or own best health advocates! Nobody knows your body like you do. At 70, I am my best doctor.
you're exactly right!
Hope u recover all the way, looks like u had lots of support, which is a blessing. Having 2 kids, going through all these. There are people going through so much sickness without family support.
God bless.
Good grief, it takes so damn long for them to get to the bottom of everything! Everything should be taken seriously, just because you “look healthy” doesn’t mean you are. We have to push for ourselves no matter what. I’m currently going through something myself, not Cancer, but I have a 2nd opinion coming up this week out of state. Stand up ladies (and men). We know our own bodies!
God Bless you young lady. You are so smart and beautiful! Warrior!!!
Thank you so much for sharing your story. Wishing you complete success and much joy!
"It's probably stress" is doctor-speak for "We don't know what's wrong with you, but we're afraid to admit it."
I pray for your complete recovery and health 🙏
Praying for you Ashley for total healing. ❤
Thank you Thank you Thank you for sharing your story 🙏🏻🤗🌻
As an RN myself I question any and all doctors that I see, but usually it is not well received, like you said you don’t want to sound like your second guessing or questioning their determinations, but I’m not their to make friends I’m their to get answers. I hope you make a full recovery and wish you all the best.
Great presentation!
So sorry. God bless🫶🏻🙏🌹 Scary cancer. You are here because of your strength. Keep us updated. Love from Boston ♥️
Our healthcare system is failing all of us. A CT should have been the number one priority.
at the same time our healthcare system is healing a lot of people! definitely important to advocate and seek multiple opinions until you receive an answer that you're comfortable with.
This is the perfect example of why you have to advocate for yourself from day one. That means if you know your symptoms, you don’t except a diagnosis that is wrong. You knew what it was from day 1. People you have to be your own advocate from day 1. Every minute, hour and day count and make a difference with a cancer diagnosis.
YES!!!
My dear you will recover soon. Just be positive.
we are all wishing her the best!
Lung Cancer can happen to anybody at any time. Audience wishes hapless victims all the best. Cheers!
a very sad truth :(
It's wrong to just look at someone and decide they're healthy just because they look good. Awful! Seems to happen a lot.
so wild how these diseases can hide in plain sight.
Knowing Healing and Wholeness in and as every aspect of your Body, Mind and Spirit - All Bodily Systems recognizing their Divine Blueprint of Perfection with Ease and in Grace! Holding you in the Light - knowing every step of your journey is empowering and revealing to you what is needed in the next one. And Knowing that all that you need is revealed to you in every moment - and that you are fully expressing your Magnificence beyond your Wildest Human Imaginings in every step. Sending Love and Light to you and your Family!
Good for your persistence for your health, your life, and your outcome. ❤
It baffles me that doctors would order a couple of blood tests and tell you that nothing was wrong. It's so obvious to me that you should've gotten lung scans pretty much immediately. I've heard a similar story so many times. Routine bloodwork is normal - so you must just be anxious!
I remember watching an episode of Mystery Diagnosis of a woman complaining of difficulty breathing for several years. In all that time no one gave her a lung scan. By the time she had an xray, one lung had collapsed and the other one was partially functioning due to undiagnosed Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
@@smfarrie2943 Most likely if you complain of difficulty breathing, they'll automatically diagnose you with "asthma", prescribe an inhaler, and send you home. Without even doing any tests. (In my case, the methacholine challenge test--the gold standard of asthma tests--was negative, but that didn't matter. Eventually, it turned out I had a very rare serious lung condition that some doctors and nurses never heard of.)
so important to get multiple opinions!
You are correct cancer can hit anyone at Any age 😮 Our 7 yr old son had been complaining that his knee hurt 😞 he played baseball and football but our family dr wanted to see him and hubby took him and the dr said he did not want to GUESS so X-ray the next day after work I stopped by the dr office he showed me The X-ray and said That is a tumor and I do not know what kind 😞😩😩🏈💔💔 I fell to my knees HYSTERICAL I KNEW THE LIFE WE HAD WAS GONE
so sorry to hear about your son :(
I can completely relate to the treatment by doctors. When I had crushing fatigue I was told over and over that it was because a had a young baby. They ignored that he was sleeping through the night. They ignored my joint pain, muscle pain, and all the things that I was suffering with. I was too young to be sick and, many of them were nice, but they didn’t listen or try to dig deeper to find answers when bloodwork didn’t show anything. I hope soon, they will start to listen.
I’d been diagnosed with early stage emphysema several years back. Back in 2022, I went to the ER with what I thought was a mild case of the flu. I’d taken a home COVID test the day before that was negative but, guess what, it was COVID. Since my clotting factors were a bit high, they decided to do a CT scan. I was glad because I needed one after they caught the emphysema on a CT for something else, but because I wasn’t 50 yet (I was close, I was 49) they wouldn’t give it to me even though I’d been a smoker for over 30 years. Honestly, getting COVID was a good thing at that point, I got the lung CT I needed. Then the doctor came in and I didn’t like the look on his face… He said there was a nodule in my right lung and he tried to down play it by saying that sometimes a bump is just a bump. I still cried… I got in for a PET scan once I was clear from COVID, it was 5 days before Christmas… I was sweating it for hours, waiting for those results. When I read that all signs point to it being benign, I broke down and cried. My husband had to ask to be sure that benign meant not cancer before I saw him tear up. That was the greatest gift I got that year. Now I go every 6 months for a CT to make sure it hasn’t grown any. If it has, it’s not much. It’s currently a little bigger than a cheerio (I wish they wouldn’t use food as a size comparison, it’s weird telling people I have a cheerio in my lung) and I hope it stays that way. I got lucky that they caught the weird thing in my lung and didn’t dismiss it like they dismiss my other issues because I happen to be a psychiatric patient (bipolar, anxiety, PTSD). And if it wasn’t for COVID, they never would have caught it… It sounds weird to say COVID was good to me, but in my case it really was. It got me that much needed CT scan I was a year too young to get (despite the fact that I had good reason for needing it, having emphysema and being a smoker) and it found that nodule. Oh, and I finally managed to quit smoking last October. It took a long time to do it, but I’m over a year smoke free, I’m happy to say. 😊
I’ll be sending good vibes that her story has a happy ending. It’s been such a rough road, like everyone’s with the way healthcare and insurance is today. I don’t know why everything has to be so complicated. Just treat the patients, don’t make it all about what’s covered and what isn’t. Do what’s necessary, don’t dismiss symptoms as stress or anxiety. Do your jobs, uphold that oath of do no harm and stop making it all shit this happy crap. We’re patients, real people, not just numbers.
Thank you so much for sharing your journey. Are you still working as a hospice social worker?
When I hear of non smokers getting lung cancer, the first thing that I think of is Radon Gas. Every state in the country has some Radon and some have higher levels than others. You can't see it or smell it. It is the leading environmental cause of lung cancer. Everyone should have their home tested. I'm not a doctor or scientist but have experienced this terrible disease with my late wife. Thank you for your story and courage. God bless.
It's ridiculous that when you have a concern, they act like it's nothing.
You’ve been through so much, I’m a cancer survivor. I had an ovarian tumor the size of a football. Good luck ♥️🌹🌟
Why more non smoking and younger people are getting lung cancer 😢? Or is it about cancer in general 😢? Do we have any statistics or explanation? I'm so sorry for this beautiful woman and I wish her all the best ❤
Prayers for complete healing in Jesus name!
Way to be your own advocate! 25+ years ago my bf's 5 yr old daughter had a droopy eye & other symptoms. Her research pointed to a brain tumor. She was practically laughed out of the ophthalmologist office. The ER wouldn't door an MRI, she planted herself and said you are going to need to call the police to drag me away. Finally, as she stood behind the technologist, He stopped to reach for the phone and she saw what he saw on the screen and flipped out. Stage 4 glioblastoma. Trust your instincts.
Im a non smoker diagnosed with an early stage lung cancer last year. It was an incidental finding. I have no symptoms at all, i dont get sick, no cough but still got cancer. I had lobectomy January of this year, since no spread- im back to my normal life. I have incoming scan this Jan, in God's grace im expecting a good result
God bless you with good health and thanks for sharing your story.
Excellent advice. Thank you!
Sending prayers to ashley ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
The squeaky wheel gets the oil ❤
Shirley here I smoked for 30 years and quit a year 1/2 ago and I am 74. I guess I got lucky. Even if I get cancer now I am 74.
You must have strong lungs. Copd is as bad as cancer. Most smokers get that eventually.
@@pam164 I have had stage 2 COPD for a few years even when I smoked but. I really haven't had any trouble breathing or getting my breath. Actually my lungs feel good and my doctor say they sound good I do have to have a CT scan every year because of being a x smoker and they want to be able to catch it in time.
@bobs1356 It tends to progress normally. My mother passed with that , she was in her 40s when she passed. She couldn't breath straight away and it just got worse where she couldn't breath at all. She was a very light smoker but still got it. I think at 74 just getting it now you have been lucky.
You started smoking in your 40s?
@@ldjt6184 no I was about 27 when I started. I would quit for awhile and start up again quit. I quit for good it was to expensive. I see my neighbor across the street from me in his 80's still smoking. Oh well I guess some of us don't have the cancer genes.
What a sweet soul ❤
The medical community blames smoking for a bunch of different cancers. My late husband had bladder cancer and never smoked..the died 6 years after his bladder cancer due to pancreatic cancer that had spread to his liver as well.
It does increase the risk for several cancers: pancreatic, stomach, lung and oral, liver and bladder cancers. It is however not the only cause.
And one can get a smoking-related cancer even if one never smoked (as this and other lung cancer videos show).
Praying 🙏
I have a calcified granuloma and mild dependent lower lobe subsegmental atelclastesis by CT. Should I be worried?
Thank you for sharing.
Did your bloodwork not show anything ? before you got the CT scan. Later stage lung cancer often give elevated calcium levels. ?
I have the same cancer, I am older than you, never smoked either, I am asthmatic so having a cough and not swallowing my doctor said there was nothing wrong ii was when covid was about, also thevswollen legs and ankles but not the fingers, no chemo or radium I have been taking tarigsso fir two years and most of mine in my lungs have gone I still have one in my right lung but shrinking, I am in australia
wow you are a stong girl! sorry you are going through all this !
Hi, I haven’t been diagnosed with Cancer yet, but I’m trying to find a Dr. that will take me serious that something is wrong with my Body. I have Severe unintentional Weight loss. Bad Fatigue, some Nausea here and there. I guess an overall sense of Malice? I weigh 125Lbs now. I’m 5’ 11” Tall, I’m 63 Yo Male, and my regular Weight is 175-185Lbs. I have a lot of Back problems, with 4 Fusions in my Neck. And 2 in my lower Back. I just had MRIs and I need 3 more Fusions in my lower Back. I now have a Syrinx attached to another Tumor of Unknown Origin at the T10 Level in my Spinal Cord. A Hyper tense Atypical Hemangioma at my T4 Vertebrate. I don’t know if these are causing all my problems and can’t seem to get an answer from my Dr.s. They just keep saying I need to see a Different Dr. ?????? I also can’t feel any Hunger?? When I tell the Dr.s that, they look at me like that’s impossible? I just never feel Hunger even if I don’t eat? I wish I could find an Answer to something??? I really hope you are Cancer free. You’re a Beautiful young Woman with 2 Beautiful Kids, and deserve to have a Happy wonderful Life. I wish you the very best and will definitely add you in my Prayers. God Loves you and I hope you talk to him for Forgiveness and Healing. God does Amazing things, but you have to Pray for them to happen.😁❤️
I hate that the media , medical community makes people believe that if they don’t smoke they don’t have to worry about lung cancer . That gives people a false sense of security. I have known lots of people with lung cancer and only about 4 out of those people smoked . And out all the older people I’ve known that smoked only those four developed lung cancer . People need to know that lung cancer is not just for smokers .
Are you able to provide the name of the clinic on the east coast that did the surgery for you? Thank you
Did you take Metronidazole in your life and if yes, for how long? Wishing you full recovery!
I can't get over the fact that drs themselves could be so dismissive and ignorant to the patient and the physical symptoms they're literally showing. ive seen many times the explanation by drs to patient on why they don't scan for tumors right away is because insurance companies would be "overloaded" and that it would bankrupt insurance companies. WHAT the hell!!!!!!!!!!! plus, if the case is as simple as they don't want to approve and spend money on scans and treatments, why do they approve all the other UNnecessary things that delay care. And then it's worse for everyone, most of which sadly is always the patient. amazing persistence and patience to Ashley for advocating for the truth, even though it should've never been that way
It's very short-sighted. Guess how much it costs to treat stage 4 cancer.
Doctors are a big part of this myth. I have been diagnosed with asthmatic bronchitis at thirteen and still to this day I struggle to breath all the time even with medication. I've also had chest CT's and in 2016 they found two nodules two and one millimeter each. I had two year follow up scans and they remain stable. Even my pulmonologist has perpetuated this belief that non smokers don't have to worry about lung cancer.
I'm so sorry this happened to you. It makes me so angry when I hear about the many ways that women are dismissed in healthcare. The answer is always. You're too thin. You're too fat. You're too stressed. You don't exercise enough. You exercise too much. I wonder if men are treated the same way.
How are you now? God bless.
When was the first time you had a chest xray?
an inspiration!!🫶❤️ happy there is no evidence of cancer now
What is it going to take to get these Drs to take their patients seriously?
Story after story of people at the mercy of a person who should know better!!
Not only do they waste precious time for these patients, they waste money by ignoring the symptoms so that they have to go to Dr after Dr, ER visits, etc..
We SHOULD trust that this person who attended many, many years of schooling to know MORE than we do.
That just isn't the case alot of times obviously.
Not only is it frustrating, it is SCARY!!!
Ashley did you ever have a PET scan?
I had a psma-pet scan. After many mri-3t scans first. My doctor finally gave in to allowing it to me.
@@orangeguy3314 ugh there's so much gaslighting involved....they wait so long to give us pet scans to find out what's wrong with us
Wish you the best! Take care cause your lung limits- i suspect- is far more than a normal human: You exercise many years which means that your symptoms delay. But when they come present, its a little bit something to worry about.
What is doctors prediction; what you have to do;
The fact that there is a focus on smokers, makes everyone think non-smokers are not susceptible.
the problem here is med professionals not listening to patient.. its likely because they see themselves as educated and professional, which they are, but also see the patient as not educated in medicine. But they sometimes forget I think that the patient has their nervous system plugged into that body 24/7 and lives with it.. and has lived with it for their entire life.. they know that body better than they ever will.. so when a patient says they believe something isnt right.. they need to investigate the worst case scenario.
I wish you the best and I also hope you leave that state
Why is it so hard to order a catscan?
Fenbendazole and. Irvemectrin. Keto diet and fast zero sugar zero carbs.
My grandmother died of lung cancer and she never smoked.
Why are all of these stories the same? Doctors act like they know so much more than you and when it comes to cancer they don’t know shit. I was horrified how I was treated and misdiagnosed only to find out that it is the norm, not the exception with most cancer victims. I feel like more of a victim of the medical industry than cancer itself. If you suspect ANYTHING is wrong with your body, never let a doctor tell you otherwise.
Diagnosed with long cocvid? She never had covid
More like long jab 😢
definitely a result of the gene therapy most people took :(. praying for you and your family that you able to get find a cure ❤
What is she chewing on?
Probably chewing gum
She is very well spoken and communicates very well, but I was curious about that too... Of course the message that she is passing is much more important, but I was just curious as well...
I was wondering this but at one point you can see a blue gum in her mouth hope that helps
Gum, chewing non stop
So frustrating that this happened to you.
Don't know where you are but in the uk the only people that are being checked early are people that smoked or smoke. So if you get lung cancer here you are probably stumped as it is likely to be found late if a none smoker!
Same in US.
Yup imunotjerapy can show side effects after couple months....
Have you had COVID vaccine?
2nd hand smoke 🚬? 🤔
I follow you on Tiktok
Working in healthcare I assume you got the experimental shots. A cocktail of experimental chemicals would cause this.
I wonder if tou got that because of the job you do
❤️🩹❤️
Above us is a lot of s p R a / y i n g. Think this is causing a lot of this.
What do you mean? What is SPRAY/ING?? do you mean the use of pesticides? If so- I completely agree!
@amymac41890 Look up, and you will see. Everyday and night they do it. It's not what you say.
Yep!
And it’s in the food and then they wait until it get bad before they want to treat you it’s a wait and see and oh it’s bad now let’s treat versus preventing it earlier on. As well as chemicals
@@LeahK-u5v In water, food and breathing it.
Nonsmoker has nothing to do with your cancer, its environmental, stress, genetic.
Jabbed????
never say to doctors, that you have a stressful life or psychological problems, because then they don't diagnose you propperly
i notice you have a tattoo. Did you know that there is research that supports tattoos lead to different types of internal cancers.. just sayin
I 100% believe in self advocacy, but really hoping that people hearing her do not think it is a good idea to doctor shop until you find someone who will agree to give you a treatment that *you* think is best, In the absence of posessing a degree in medicine and a license to practice. Yes ask questions, yes inquire about certain lines of treatment, but she literally said that she wants the treatment she wants and if she does not get it she will find a doctor elsewhere who is willing to do it.
Hey beautiful I would date you! You are gorgeous! And thank you for sharing. I’m a woman :)