For most of her life, Hazel has suffered with bronchitis. Though she hadn’t been officially diagnosed, her mother had an over-the-counter medication regime that she used to treat her frequent cough. As Hazel got older, she began having allergies as well, so she would be the first to tell you that respiratory problems were always on her mind. But in January 2022, her lung problems became more severe. Her bronchitis stopped responding to the medications that had always worked in the past. She saw a doctor who, with a chest X-ray, confirmed her bronchitis diagnosis and put her on more specialized prescription drugs. But the bronchial symptoms persisted, and the cough became so violent it was debilitating, which led her back to the doctor.
“My primary care physician sent me to many different doctors, an ENT, gastroenterologist, pulmonologist, and eventually I was given a CT scan,” Hazel said. “When the results came back, and my doctor read ‘lung cancer,’ I was shocked. I began to cry but after a few minutes I collected myself and said, ‘well, what do I have to do next?’”
Hazel knew she needed to act and quickly. She met with a thoracic surgeon who, after a biopsy, did surgery in July 2022 to remove the cancerous lymph nodes. Unfortunately, Hazel’s doctors discovered that her cough was due to a damaged nerve from a previous infection, and so it continues to plague her to this day. But Hazel is thankful every day that she visited a doctor, “It’s the reason they found the cancer and it was only stage one,” she said. Catching the cancer early meant that Hazel didn’t require chemotherapy, radiation or immunotherapy. Though Hazel is now considered cancer-free, she keeps up with her doctors and gets a scan every six months to ensure that, if it were to appear again, she could take care of it just as quickly.
Advocating as a LUNG FORCE Hero
As soon as Hazel received her diagnosis, she decided she wanted to learn more about lung cancer and how to become an advocate for the community. That search led her to the American Lung Association and in October 2022, she attended her first LUNG FORCE Walk. “I didn’t walk, I just wanted to take in all the information they were providing and hear other’s stories,” she said. “I am a bit more reserved, and don’t want to push my story on anyone so it took me two more years of volunteering at LUNG FORCE Walks before I opened up and agreed to share my story at Advocacy Day.”
LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day, she felt, was an opportunity for Hazel to tell her story in open and accepting environment. To prepare for the event she spoke with many other advocates online and participated in trainings. She admits she was nervous when she first arrived in Washington D.C., but she found a community that eased her anxiety, and she found her voice speaking openly and honestly with the representatives. “I got a chance to meet people in person that I had been talking to online. It was such a wonderful event, to be around a group of people, both survivors and caregivers, and everyone was there for the same cause,” she said.
Becoming a LUNG FORCE Hero is just the beginning for Hazel who has found her place in the LUNG FORCE community. She has since reached out to many other Heroes, to not only find support and community but to continue to find new ways to volunteer and advocate. “One woman had a story similar to mine, they found the cancer by accident. She was also a non-smoker and had the same surgery. We had a chance to meet, and it was so nice to relate and talk,” Hazel said.
Moving forward, Hazel encourages herself and others to lean on faith and know that while some things are out of our hands, getting the word out and promoting LUNG FORCE is making a difference. “When we were on Capitol Hill, I told people, 'We got this. Let’s get the word out and do what we can do. Just keep the faith and at that point it’s in God’s hands.’”
“Being able to breathe is just another day in paradise,” she continued. “Don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor or find a community online or in person to get your questions answered if you are ever struggling with this basic need.”
Learn more about LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day and how you can participate in LUNG FORCE Events.
Blog last updated: August 13, 2024
