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Lung Cancer Screening Program
Lung cancer screening has shown that we can detect cancer much earlier in people most at risk.
Diana Foster’s Story: Back on her Feet After Lung and Colon Cancer Treatment
As a former retail manager at several Salvation Army stores, Diana Foster loved helping others — and hunting for great thrift store deals, especially shoes. But in 2018, the Detroit resident's life changed drastically when she began experiencing serious health symptoms that she could no longer ignore.
Diana, who has a history of smoking, was coughing up blood. “I initially ignored the symptoms but one day at work I almost passed out and after telling my son what I was going through he convinced me that I needed to go to the doctor.”
Her primary care physician ordered a chest x-ray that revealed a concerning shadow in her lung. After undergoing an evaluation and further tests at Henry Ford Medical Center-Fairlane, including a CT scan, the news was not good for Diana, who is a mother of three and grandmother of 11.
A pivotal moment and a promise to herself
“As I walked into the medical center, I gave my sister my pack of cigarettes and told her no matter what happens, I’m not going to smoke anymore, and I never did after that moment.”
For Diana, who had not experienced any major health issues before, tests would reveal that she had stage 4 lung cancer that spread to her bones. What followed was a whirlwind of hospitalizations and treatment.
“I was taken by ambulance to Henry Ford Hospital and had blood transfusions and had to be in the ICU,” explains Diana who says in addition to coughing up blood she had internal bleeding, blood clots in her lung and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). “I was nervous and scared and really thought I was going to die.”
Diana underwent radiation and Keytruda, an immunotherapy treatment, stimulating the body's own immune system to fight cancer cells. “My oncologist at the time, Dr. Joseph Won, said if the immunotherapy didn’t work I may only have a few months to live. But my body responded to the treatment. When I started crying after hearing that news, Dr. Won asked me what was wrong, and I told him my tears were happy tears of joy.”
One year after her immunotherapy treatment, Diana, was also diagnosed with colon cancer. Her colon cancer surgeon Megumi Asai, M.D. explains because she had lung and colon cancer at the same time the clinical treatment decision was more complex. Diana’s case was reviewed by the Henry Ford colon cancer multidisciplinary tumor board.
“The good thing was that Diana’s lung cancer was controlled well on immunotherapy,” says Dr. Asai. “Immunotherapy does not negatively affect the recovery from surgery, and we were able to offer a surgery while continuing treatment for the lung cancer. After the surgery, it turned out that her cancer was early stage (stage I),” she adds.
Several years after lung cancer diagnosis, Diana remains strong in her fight to live
Since first being diagnosed with lung cancer, Diana has seen numerous Henry Ford cancer specialists including her current medical oncologist Fawzi Abu Rous, M.D., who explains Diana’s lung cancer was aggressive-but her will to survive was even stronger.
“She never missed a treatment or clinic visit, approaching each step with determination and grace,” he says. “When Diana was first diagnosed, comprehensive biomarker testing at Henry Ford revealed a very high PD-L1 expression (95%), which predicted a strong likelihood of response to immunotherapy alone—without the need for chemotherapy. Based on this, she started treatment with Keytruda, and remarkably, her cancer remained under control for over five years.”
Dr. Abu Rous adds that when he began seeing Diana to manage her lung cancer care she was thriving, and her cancer was in remission. “I reviewed the most up-to-date data with her and shared that, for patients like her who have had a prolonged and sustained response to Keytruda, it may be reasonable to pause treatment and transition to close monitoring. She felt comfortable with this plan—and that’s exactly what we did.”
Diana, who says she has come a long way since first being diagnosed, says her medical experience at Henry Ford started with the birth of two of her children and they have been by her side ever since. “I love Henry Ford and would recommend them to anyone needing cancer treatment. I don’t believe I would be alive today if it weren’t for the great care I have received through Henry Ford Health.”
How a friend and shoes came to the rescue
Diana admits that there were times during her lung cancer journey that she felt like giving up but a few months after being diagnosed, a friend found a creative way to lift her spirits.
“I’m a big shoe lover with more than 200 pairs of shoes. My friend started buying me shoes when he could tell I was feeling down. It gave me the will to start getting dressed nicely again and became a symbol to keep going. When you hear the C word, it can defeat you but thanks to my friend and the staff at Henry Ford, I have the will and strength to persevere.”
As her cancer journey continues, she has made a point of sharing her experience with others with words of wisdom for those who have a history of smoking. “I have had family and friends who stopped smoking after seeing what I’ve gone through. For those thinking about smoking, don’t,” she emphasizes. It’s not worth your life.”
For further information visit lung cancer treatment at Henry Ford Health.