Casey’s journey with Lung Cancer

Warrior, fighter, champion, strong, beautiful, fierce... these are just the first few words that come to mind when I describe Casey.

 

It's never easy to hear the words, "You've got cancer." No doubt, this last week has been one of the most unimaginable for Casey, her husband and her family. At the young age of 38, Casey was told the unthinkable, she has cancer. 

 

On Easter Sunday, Casey, who had not been feeling well for the previous week or so, began to feel even worse. Her coughing got to the point she took herself to urgent care. The doctors there ordered a chest x-ray to check for pneumonia. A routine x-ray. The doctor came back into the room and told her he saw something and recommended she have a CT scan right away. 

 

Following the advice of the doctor, she immediately had a CT scan done. The doctor came into the room and sat down, and told her, "I am not going to sugarcoat this, you have a large mass in your right lung and it's highly concerning for malignancy. You need to follow up with a specialist."

 

The weeks to follow, Casey did just that and got into a Pulmonologist immediately. He treated her for pneumonia for a week. She returned for a follow up only to discover that the size of the mass did not change and she did not feel any better. It was then that she scheduled a PET Scan for Wednesday May 4th, followed by bloodwork and then a bronchoscopy for the early hours of Friday, May 6th. 

 

It was on Friday that her absolute worst fear came true. She was told, "It is confirmed cancer." Later that day, she had her first visit with an oncologist who informed her that her mass on her right lung was 4.7x4.5 CM and too large to remove. She was also told that the cancer was in Stage 3 as it has entered her lymphatic node on her right side. She had to process this information at the start of Mother's day weekend.  

 

If you know Casey at all, you know she did not waste one minute getting to work. She scheduled an additional CT Scan, an MRI, and an Oncologist appointment for the week of May 9th-May 13th.  

 

May 10th, Casey had her CT Scan. She was informed that the cancer had not spread into her ovaries (which were of previous concern due to lit up images on the PET scan). A slight sigh of relief.  

 

Then she was told the name of her cancer, Non Small Cell Adenocarcinoma.  

Lung cancer is no small fight, but Casey is no small fighter.  

 

As expected with any health issue, bills and medical expenses will add up. I am setting up this go fund me to help the Lantz family ease some strain of these unexpected expenses.

 

All funds will go directly to Casey.

 

Even if you can’t donate, your prayers are always accepted and appreciated.

 

Thank you for all the continued support for such an amazing person. Casey we LOVE you!!

 

HER FIGHT IS OUR FIGHT