Damien O'Hara, a former smoker, emphasizes the importance of consulting a GP at the first sign of abnormal health issues. His single symptom was a cough with blood, which he initially dismissed. After seeking medical attention, a 6.5 cm lung tumor was discovered. O'Hara considers himself fortunate, as his cancer was caught at stage 2B before it could metastasize. He underwent chemotherapy and surgery, with a positive prognosis upon recovery but remained fearful until confirmed cancer-free. His experience underscores the vital need for early intervention in health concerns.
I struggle with heartburn and I said, 'Maybe I have ulcers in my stomach or I'm after ripping the lining of my stomach'. I told myself I had better go to the doctor and have the camera put into my stomach to see if they were there, but I just ignored it for two or three weeks. It happened again, so I went to the doctor, we did that and I was sent for a chest X-ray at the same time.
If not for the location of the cancer - at the very top of his lung - the tumour would not have irritated my airway and I would not have presented with my sole symptom of coughing up blood. The oncologist told me I was a lucky man.
I was devastated when I got my news. I was fearful. When you hear 'lung cancer' you go, 'That's it, I'm gone', because there are so many glands in the lungs, you're worrying about it traveling.
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