Damien O'Hara, a former smoker, emphasizes the importance of visiting a GP at the first sign of health issues, as he experienced early signs of lung cancer. Initially dismissing symptoms like coughing with blood, he ultimately underwent tests that revealed a 6.5 cm tumor on his lung. O'Hara's cancer was diagnosed at stage 2B, leading to a successful treatment journey, including chemotherapy and surgery. His experience underlines the critical role of early detection in improving cancer prognosis and the psychological impacts associated with fear of diagnosis.
Not many would describe themselves as lucky to receive the news of a 6.5cm tumour being found on their lung, but that is exactly how Mr O'Hara saw it.
The oncologist told me I was a lucky man. It was stage 2B, it had been caught early and it was just by pure luck.
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.
I was devastated when I got my news. I was fearful. When you hear 'lung cancer' you go, 'That's it, I'm gone'.
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