30 Days of PH: Beating PH And Cancer

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by Jen Cueva |

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Day 15 of 30 Days of PH⁣⠀ ⁣Topic: Beating PH and Cancer⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ This is Cathy’s story @ebayqueen55⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ ⁣My name is Cathy. I live on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. I was diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension in 2011 I was diagnosed on my first trip to the ER. In reading other’s stories, I realize that I was very lucky to get a diagnosis that quickly. They sent me up to Boston to a PH specialist. I was there for a week because they needed to start medications. I was started on Tracleer and oxygen 24/7. ⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ About six weeks, later I ended up back in the ER I didn’t know what was wrong but I thought I was dying. It turned out I was having a reaction to the Tracleer. My blood counts were so low that they couldn’t believe that I was still conscious. I spent two weeks in hospital. After going home, I had to have my blood tested every three days. They also took me off of Tracleer and started me on Adcirca.⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ Adcirca made a big difference in my PH symptoms and disease. I started feeling much better, but then my blood counts started to drop again and again. They think the reaction to the Tracleer caused my body unable to store iron. Every couple of months I have an iron infusion and that keeps everything balanced. ⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ I was doing well until 2 years ago, I was diagnosed with lung cancer. I had chemo and radiation. I basically sailed through the treatments and as of right now, there is no sign of cancer. I also have a positive attitude, that helps!⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ I say that my PH family group on Facebook is what got me through this. I’ve met so many people that are like best friends and family. There is always someone to encourage you and cheer you on. Some people I have met and others I haven’t. But, that doesn’t matter because I feel like I know each and every person that I have bonded with. ⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ #30daysofPH #cancerfree⁣⠀ ⁣

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About the Author

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Jen Cueva Jen Cueva lives in San Diego, California, with her husband and daughter. Jen worked in nursing before the script changed upon her diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH), group 1, in 2005. Advocacy has been essential to her life. Her passion is to instill hope and remind others in the PH community that they are not alone. To do this, she serves as a forum moderator for Pulmonary Hypertension News and in her weekly column she delves into the roller coaster of emotions that accompany PH. It is powerful and meaningful to her to have this opportunity to play a role in helping others become more informed and educated so they are more empowered in their journey. Together, we PHight stronger!

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30DaysofPH, awareness, lung cancer

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