Summary:

In this video, Eugenia Heran shares her powerful journey of surviving stage 4 lung cancer after being told she was going to die. A lifelong artist from Syracuse, New York, Eugenia's story is one of resilience, medical advocacy, and the life-saving impact of immunotherapy.

Initial Symptoms and Diagnostic Hurdles

• Early Signs: Eugenia first noticed symptoms around Christmas 2018, including chest tightness and coughing up blood [01:20].

• Medical Dismissal: During her initial doctor's visit, her symptoms were attributed to anxiety [03:00]. However, a subsequent blood test (D-dimer) and CT scan revealed a 5 cm mass in her right lung and another crushing her main bronchus [05:35].

• Biopsy Error: After being hospitalized, a critical biopsy came back "useless" because medical staff accidentally biopsied the wrong lobe of her lung [07:50].

Critical Health Decline

• Physical Deterioration: Eugenia’s health declined rapidly; her weight dropped to 74 pounds, and she was unable to walk [09:16].

• Tracheal Blockage: The tumor eventually grew to cover 95% of her trachea, leading to a respiratory failure episode in July 2019 [11:32].

• Stage 4 Diagnosis: While in the ICU for a bowel blockage, she learned the cancer had spread, officially making her Stage 4 [13:36]. At this point, some medical staff suggested stopping treatment altogether [14:04].

The Turning Point: Patient Advocacy and Keytruda

• A Match for Immunotherapy: Tests showed Eugenia was an 80% match for the immunotherapy drug Keytruda [14:47].

• Insisting on Treatment: Despite her oncologist’s fear that the treatment might kill her due to her weakened state, Eugenia insisted on trying it, stating she was more afraid of simply dying without a fight [15:59].

• Success: She started Keytruda on August 29, 2019 [16:13]. She attributes her recovery to just two 43-minute infusions of the medicine she had to fight to receive [16:36].

Eugenia's Message

Eugenia has now survived for five years since her "terminal" diagnosis [17:10]. She strongly dislikes the word "incurable," encouraging other patients to never let their voices be taken away and to continue seeking options even when the outlook appears bleak [13:36].

Watch the full story here: Doctors Thought I Was Going To Die - Eugenia | Stage 4 Lung Cancer