Testimonials at The Cancer Institute at Alexian Brothers Hospital Network

Keep Your Faith and Spirit Alive

My name is John Tampir and I was a successful real estate broker without a care in the world, literally, until October 11 2005 when I was diagnosed with Stage IIB non-small cell lung cancer.  At the time, I was 52 years old.  I had a persistent dry cough that made it hard to talk to people.  After a CT scan showed a spot on my lower right lung, I had a needle biopsy.  The minute the doctor came walking down the hall, I knew what she was going to say. Although it was a shock to actually hear it said out loud.  I wasn't all that surprised.  I had been a smoker for almost 40 years and always thought that this could happen.  From the minute I heard the C word, my life was changed forever.  But, not all in the negative as you may expect.

When I had my surgery on October 26 they found more cancer than they expected and had to remove 2/3 of my right lung, as well as a number of lymph nodes.  Having never been hospitalized before, my hospital stay was longer than anticipated as my chest tube would not seal and the pain was substantially more intense than I bargained for.

The Friday after Thanksgiving, I started radiation and chemotherapy.  The radiation and first round of chemo went well.  It was not until the 2^nd or 3^rd rounds of chemo that I started feeling the negative effects of the drugs.  I lost my hair, my appetite and my ambition.  During this time, I developed other problems.  My lung kept filling up with fluid and I had to go on oxygen and undergo several thoracenteses.  As I was having a catheter put in, the surgeon found that my remaining right lung had "folded up" so he put in 2 chest tubes to help the lung "unfold." I was in the hospital for 11 days, but it was all for the good, as I got off of oxygen and haven't had a problem with fluid building up since then.

I had my last chemo treatment on September 26, 2006 and now I am starting to feel like my old self again.  The last couple of scans have come back ‘unchanged".  I now have hair again and am doing a lot of things I was not sure I would ever be able to do again so to me, life is GOOD!

If it was not for my faith, my positive attitude, the love and support of my wife, Cathy, and the great staff at The Cancer Institute, I am not sure how I would have gotten through all of this. I joined the Lung Cancer Support Group at the hospital and have formed a great relationship with Sue Abbinanti and the staff at the Life Enrichment Center.