Skip to main content

Functional lungs

I had my bi-annual pulmonary function test last week. The respiratory therapist told me that I’m now back in the normal range on all the measures, and based on the results, no one would have reason to believe that my lungs have any problems! The official results were uploaded to my patient portal over the weekend.

The percentage below indicates my result compared to the expected result for a woman my age.

FEV1 (forced expiratory volume) measures the air you exhale in 1 second.

  • Nov. 2023: 95%
  • May 2023: 91%
  • Oct. 2022: 73%

TLC (total lung capacity) is the total volume of air in the lungs after inhaling as much as possible.

  • Nov. 2023: 95%
  • May 2023: 83%
  • Oct. 2022: 72%
  • Jun. 2022: 69%

DLCO (diffusing capacity of lung for carbon monoxide, aka diffusion) is the extent to which oxygen passes from the lungs into the blood. It indicates the extent of lung damage and helps explain my shortness of breath on exertion and lower O2 saturation. I have improved 100% since June 2022, when I was first diagnosed with cancer.

  • Nov. 2023: 82%
  • May 2023: 68%
  • Oct. 2022: 49%
  • Jun. 2022: 41%

I will ask my oncologist and pulmonologist what they think most contributed to the improvement: cancer medication, reduced scarring over time, or ?? They've explained before that scarring (fibrosis) makes the lungs stiff and prevents oxygen from getting into the blood, so it seems like the scarring must be diminishing or the numbers would not have improved as much. But that's my armchair analysis. I imagine exercise also helps, but I doubt that's the main contributor.

It has been a tortuous path to get to this point, and I’m grateful that my lungs are finally becoming more functional. This morning was the first time I walked uphill from downtown to campus without my portable. I didn't have my pulse ox to measure my O2 saturation, but I felt ok. During our trip to the Rhine River Valley in late May 2022 (a few weeks before my diagnosis), I recall gasping for breath after just a short, steep climb up some steps. I complained to Leland that I had no idea menopause was going to mean completely losing any semblance of physical fitness. I can still envision where this happened, and would love to go back to see how that climb feels now.

We visited the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum in February, where we saw these glass lungs on display.


Comments

  1. Elizabeth PhelpsNovember 13, 2023 at 2:19 PM

    Love to hear such good news! That is a beautiful sculpture as well. My son Gabe is learning about pulmonary functions in 7th grade science class. Makes me think of you. <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Esther PrinsNovember 14, 2023 at 6:26 AM

      Thank you, Elizabeth. That's cool Gabe is learning about lungs.

      Delete
  2. NickyNovember 13, 2023 at 2:21 PM

    Esther, you are a true champion, true warrior. I'm over the moon for you!

    ReplyDelete
  3. LauraNovember 13, 2023 at 2:27 PM

    This is incredible news, Esther! Thank you for sharing this update. You have been making incredible strides!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousNovember 13, 2023 at 2:48 PM

    What a great news! I am so glad that you have normal lungs! So inspirational and encouraging for other patients who also have lung problems! Bo

    ReplyDelete
  5. KristenNovember 13, 2023 at 2:53 PM

    What wonderful news!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousNovember 13, 2023 at 3:32 PM

    Great news! I think your hard work and fitness before and after diagnosis significantly contribute to your health today! Well done.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousNovember 13, 2023 at 4:09 PM

    Today's account of your steady "functional lung" progress made my day. A breath of very good news! And thanks for sharing Paulson's stunning glass sculpture. Love the Renwick!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Esther PrinsNovember 14, 2023 at 6:28 AM

      Thank you, anonymous friend! We've been to DC countless times and have visited all the other Smithsonians, but had never heard of or visited the Renwick. We happened upon it by chance when walking by the White House.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousNovember 14, 2023 at 12:35 PM

      Anonymous friend is Clare H!

      Delete
    3. Esther PrinsNovember 15, 2023 at 2:06 PM

      Aha!

      Delete
  8. DoloresNovember 13, 2023 at 4:55 PM

    Congratulations!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. BethanyNovember 13, 2023 at 9:55 PM

    Esther, we're rejoicing with you. Congratulations for each foot you have put in front of the other on this long, hard journey.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Esther PrinsNovember 14, 2023 at 6:29 AM

      Thank you, Bethany! We make the road by walking...

      Delete
  10. AnonymousNovember 13, 2023 at 10:09 PM

    This news makes my heart sing!! Lois

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousNovember 13, 2023 at 10:46 PM

    Congratulations - such good news is always welcome. A perfect time of the year to be thankful and grateful for the recent improvements. Love the sculpture too!

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousNovember 14, 2023 at 6:28 AM

    Such good news! So happy for you!

    ReplyDelete
  13. IreneNovember 14, 2023 at 7:30 AM

    Dear Esther---Thanking & praising God for this amazing improvement, just over the last year and half!! And even if we can't always explain how or why the healing happens... to see such concrete ,visible proof of the healing that has occurred is so encouraging...whether it's in the numbers or walking up hills sans portable! Hugs & love from Maryland

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnnyceNovember 14, 2023 at 11:39 AM

    Wow! You are a high achiever in all arenas. How did this happen? You worked hard, followed protocols, consulted with experts, pushed when you needed to push and held back when your body needed you to hold back. I'm so glad that you are seeing tangible evidence that you are capable of healing; that's got to provide such comfort. Enjoy the upcoming break!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Esther PrinsNovember 14, 2023 at 1:00 PM

      Thanks, Annyce. Old habits (overachieving) are hard to break. :)

      Delete
  15. AnonymousNovember 15, 2023 at 12:23 AM

    Wonderful news, Esther. My sister and I will continue to pray.

    ReplyDelete
  16. CharlesNovember 15, 2023 at 1:05 PM

    Wonderful news!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hilia Marija HöpkerNovember 16, 2023 at 10:30 AM

    Desrest Esther, what a thrill! Oh, this so wonderful - wishing you and Leland a happy day on Lilly’s 15th Birthday. 🥳🎈😘🎉🎂🎁 best from Germany

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Esther PrinsNovember 19, 2023 at 5:00 PM

      Thank you, Hilia! We had fun celebrating Lily's 15th birthday.

      Delete
  18. AnonymousNovember 17, 2023 at 11:47 AM

    Dear Esther, this is wonderful news! I'm very happy for you and thankful for the update! And the sculpture is lovely, including the alveoli flowers.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Cancer- and Tagrisso-versaries

June 14 marked three years since my Stage IV lung cancer diagnosis and on June 30, I will complete three years on Tagrisso targeted therapy.  with my first Tagrisso pills (a sample from my oncologist), June 30, 2022 Every year as June approaches, I feel like I am reliving my own Stations of the Cross, recalling what happened each day as I walk toward the inevitable, gut-wrenching diagnosis: my GP telling me the x-ray showed “infiltration” and recommending a CT scan, getting the CT scan and the radiologist (and Leland) thinking I had TB, being sent to the LungenClinic, the doctor ruling out TB and telling me cancer was one of 3 possible explanations for my symptoms, but that it was "unlikely" because of my age, and so on. Not long ago, a Stage IV lung cancer diagnosis was a sure, quick death sentence. A researcher who wrote an article  commemorating the 20 th anniversary of the discovery the EGFR (epithelial growth factor receptor) mutation driving my cancer recalled that i...
15 comments
Read more

regular update

I had my regular oncology appointment in Pittsburgh yesterday. Dr. Villaruz said the scans look good and everything is stable. Although I don’t have much scanxiety nowadays, it’s always a relief to get good news. Just to be sure that my understanding was correct, I asked her why I’m not a candidate for surgery. It’s because of the cancer’s growth pattern. The one nodule that’s visible on the CT scan could just be scarring; she’s not sure if it’s a tumor. When I was diagnosed, I was told the lung cancer was “lepidic.” This means that the tumor cells were growing along the lining of the alveolar structures (air sacs).* That’s why my lungs looked like they were draped in cobwebs. You can’t do surgery in enough places to get all of it. Thankfully, Tagrisso swept out those cobwebs – and continues to do so. We go back in December for a regular appointment. *Lepidic spread tends to be slow-growing, with minimal invasion of nearby tissues, less chance of metastasis, and overall better progno...
10 comments
Read more

Who needs their knees, anyway?

I hadn’t written a blog post about my knee injury because I wasn’t sure whether it was related to cancer, but now I know how they are connected. The short version is that my knee swelled up so badly that I couldn’t walk on the night of May 6th/morning of May 7 th.  Because I am on blood thinners, the knee joint kept filling up with blood, a condition that I learned is called hemarthrosis. I’ve spent the past 4+ weeks meeting with a bazillion doctors (GP, orthopedic doctor, orthopedic oncologist, orthopedic surgeon, hematologist), going to the ER (twice), having my knee drained (3 times), and mostly lying on the sofa for 2 of those weeks, trying to get the swelling to come down. I still have a bit of swelling, but I’ve been able to walk 10-20+ minutes the past week without making it worse. I’m still wearing a compression sleeve, which is a step up from the brace and crutches I was using before. Now for the longer version. There was no particular event that caused the injury. The d...
4 comments
Read more