A surge in lung cancer diagnoses among young and middle-aged women has become increasingly prevalent, surpassing the rate of cases in men. A prime example is Mandy Warford, a resident of Palatine.
“It had started just like a cough or any sinus infection or cold,” said Warford.
When Warford’s persistent cough warranted a doctor’s visit, she was initially diagnosed with acid reflux. However, after medication proved ineffective, a chest x-ray revealed fluid build-up. After additional testing, the source of the issue was identified as lung cancer at stage four.
“The primary was lung cancer, and they call it stage four, because it had spread,” Warford mentioned.
“So the cancer has gone to the liver, other lung, some of the lymph nodes as well as the bone,” added Dr. Dennis Chan, Warford’s radiation oncologist.
Subsequent MRI testing revealed that the cancer had also metastasized to her brain, a shocking discovery for the 41-year-old non-smoker.
Dr. Chan emphasized that Warford’s case is not an isolated incident, and he recommended a targeted therapy involving Warford taking eight pills a day, which has shown remarkable results.
“This therapy is absolutely working. She’s had a blockbuster response,” Chan confirmed.
After six months of treatment, a PET scan displayed the astounding progress.
“The cancer that spread to the liver, to the other parts of the lung and the bone that activity is no longer present. The liver looks normal,” explained Chan.
While the targeted therapy was effective on most tumors, one brain tumor required a different approach using the CyberKnife method, a type of radiation treatment taking only 20 minutes.
“We’ll find that if that worked in about mid-December,” said Warford optimistically.
Despite her diagnosis, Warford, who is a frequent traveler, remains upbeat about her future and hopes for many more trips to come.
“Stage four doesn’t go away. You hope for this, no evidence of disease. And hopefully I will have that for years,” Warford stated.
