Last November, Michael O’Donnell was at the Dallas VA during Lung Cancer Awareness Month. It’s where he receives treatment for his lung cancer, but on this specific day, he was joined by LUNGevity staff to talk with veterans about screening.
“My job was easy. I was at a table with Kristi Griffith [LUNGevity’s Survivorship Navigator] so that I could answer questions as someone who uses the VA to get treated for lung cancer,” says Michael.
Michael is a veteran of the Vietnam War and uses the Dallas VA for all his testing and treatment. They don’t have a lung cancer specialist on staff, but thanks to their connections in the area, he's able to work with a specialist from UT Southwestern when needed.
“My experience with the VA has been extraordinary. It’s been easy going through them for everything I need. I know plenty of people who complain about it, but I think if you go in with the right mindset and ask for what you need, they are more than willing to help.”
In the five years since his diagnosis, Michael has used the VA for:
- Surgery that removed 40% of his upper lobe
- Four rounds of chemotherapy
- Biomarker testing that found a KRAS mutation
- Radiation therapy for a brain lesion
- Immunotherapy treatments as management control
These treatment successes have helped Michael defy the odds. His cancer was stage IV at diagnosis, he smoked cigarettes until two weeks before surgery, and was exposed to the chemical Agent Orange during his time in Vietnam.
Not only has Michael passed the 5-year survival mark, but he’s reached a point in his cancer care where both he and his doctor are happy.
“My immunotherapy treatments only take 30 minutes. They make me really tired one or two days after, but then I’m back to normal. The side effects are absolutely worth it. Right now, we are happy with where the cancer is at, and I have checkup scans every three months to make sure it hasn’t grown.”
This November, Michael is heading back to the Dallas VA for Lung Cancer Awareness Month. He'll be there with LUNGevity and Kristi again, answering questions and encouraging his fellow veterans to talk with their doctor about lung cancer screening.
More stories from people living with lung cancer:
- Turning the Tide: My Journey into Lung Cancer Advocacy
- Surviving LMD: Michelle Never Settled for “No”
- Katie's Marathon: 25% Less Lung and 25% More Heart