According to the American Lung Association, there are two main types of lung cancer: small cell and non-small cell lung cancer.
Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC): This cancer is named after the kinds of cells found and how the cells look under a microscope. Small cell lung cancer is mostly associated with cigarette smoking.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): This one makes up 80% of all lung cancer cases. It usually grows and spreads to other parts of the body slower than small cell lung cancer.
Nancy Vandespool is originally from Puerto Rico and fortunately, she has a strong support system here and in Puerto Rico. “There have been three times when I thought I was going to die,” explains Vandespool. “No matter how many people you have around you, you feel alone because you’re the one going through this.”
One of the horrible things about cancer is that it can come back and in her case, she’s had to deal with lung cancer 3 separate times. The first time she was diagnosed in 2009 and she was stage 3, the second time it was three months after deemed in remission, also stage 3, and this time around, almost 5 years later, she’s in stage 4.
“When they say to stop and smell the flowers, you really should because when you’re diagnosed with cancer, you see things differently,” she explains. She’s gone through chemotherapy, radiation, surgery to remove cancerous cells, she’s lost a lot of weight, lost her long beautiful hair—it’s taken a toll on her life. Things that she used to do easily before, now she has to take her time and it’s really difficult.
