It is a miracle, because it has been 8 years since the diagnosis!
By Nikos Papadopoulos, Patient – Survivor
I am a 46-year-old tobacco farmer, and my disease journey began 8 years ago in April 2016, when I was diagnosed with lung cancer that had metastasized to the lymph nodes. I remember, it was a day exactly before we baptized our third child. I will never forget my feelings. Joy, sorrow, anxiety, all at once! Everything started when, in the summer of 2015, I noticed rashes and swelling on my legs and then on my arms, which would subside and reappear. In January 2016, I visited a general practitioner and a rheumatologist, but no autoimmune disease was detected. At the same time, because I started feeling pain on my left side, close to my lung, I went to the hospital, where, after a series of tests, the diagnosis was made. The tumor was located in the mediastinum, had infiltrated the lymph nodes, and surgery was not an option. I should also mention that I have never been a smoker. I started cycles of chemotherapy, faced kidney failure due to the medication, but I was under the close supervision of excellent doctors, to whom I am grateful. As the years passed, many treatments followed (radiation, immunotherapy, pills), a series of tests, and PET scans every 3 months. The cancer would sometimes recede and other times reappear. Since September 2023, everything has been clear. And the important thing is that, possibly due to advances in robotic surgery, I might be able to undergo the procedure. Τhis is truly a miracle!
It is a miracle because it has been 8 years since the diagnosis. It is a miracle because I have watched, and continue to watch my three children grow day by day. It is a miracle because I was able to support my second child, who has Down syndrome, through his surgeries. It is a miracle because through cancer I made strong friendships, met wonderful people, and received a lot of love from those around me. It is a miracle because I feel strong, both mentally and physically, and I want to share this hope.
I have been through a lot, but I learned to live with lung cancer. There’s no “why”; it’s simply a way of life. And I certainly do not underestimate the problems left by the disease and the treatments (kidney failure, pericarditis, thrombosis in the left leg, thyroid issues and dermatological disease). There is not a day, hour, minute when you do not think about cancer. But, I am a living example that anything can happen. The fact that I am alive is not just about medicine; it is so much more.
And I would like to share this hope with other patients and the whole world. In a few days, I will attend FairLife L.C.C.’s “Healthy Lungs” informational event, where I will talk about my story and the miracle I have experienced. As my excellent doctor, Mrs. Sofia Lambaki, often says to me, “Nikos, live your Dream! I am here for you!”
1/4/2024
