Jacqueline Devine R., MN

Imagine being surrounded by cancer every day. For the past 25 years, I’ve cared for patients and families with cancer diagnoses and cancer-related complications. I’ve witnessed tremendous advances in lung cancer care. We are all affected by cancer at some point in our lives.

As a cancer provider, I understand what comes with a diagnosis of lung cancer: the difficult treatments, enormous costs, fear of progression, and the anxiety of dying from cancer. I know this, but I never thought it would happen to me — until the spring of 2017, when my dad’s complaints of back pain led us down an unexpected path.

My dad was not a complainer. He was the strong patriarch of our family, a Navy veteran who worked as a civilian at a local Air Force base until he retired. He was proud of his service, a hard worker, and deeply loved his family. He contributed greatly to society and was a friend to everyone he met.

His back pain workup revealed “lesions” on his spine. As a provider, I knew that meant cancer had spread. Further tests revealed small cell lung cancer, the most aggressive and fast-moving type. Although my dad had quit smoking 15 years prior, the damage was done. As a young Navy cadet, he smoked to pass the time. He was given cigarettes and matches as part of his rations while working in shipyards.

My dad’s 10-month battle with lung cancer affected so many people: my mom, his children, grandchildren, extended family, friends, and the community. We were all changed by his diagnosis, and our lives would never be the same again. We cherished every moment with him, knowing each one could be our last.

At the time of his diagnosis, groundbreaking research and therapies, including immunotherapies, were emerging. These therapies have now become mainstays in treating many cancers, including lung cancer. The progress in oncology over the past 25 years has been extraordinary: new treatments, higher cure rates, better quality of life, and longer life expectancy. If these therapies had been approved back then, maybe my dad could have celebrated another birthday, Christmas, or family event.

Lung cancer screening could have saved his life. Unfortunately, this screening is not offered enough to eligible patients. Individuals whose lung cancer is detected early have a much higher chance of being cured. This needs to be offered more widely to eligible patients.

My hope for patients and families is to advocate for your health, for screenings, and for continued research into cancer therapies and new treatment options.