Faith, Family, and a Groundbreaking Trial

Aundrea H. is a married mother of three who lives in Washington state, where she homeschools her children (ages 17, 15, and 12). She enjoys spending time with her family and friends as well as being involved in church activities.  

My diagnosis 

In December 2023, I was recovering from a cold and had a cough that kept lingering. I noticed that it was a little difficult to take a deep breath, and there was a wheezing or whistling sound that I’d never heard before. I’m known to put off seeing the doctor, but I decided to call anyway and was surprisingly able to get in for the last opening of the day.  

My doctor first ordered a chest x-ray and later, a chest CT scan which confirmed there was a mass in my left lung. This was not at all the news I expected. I tried to call my husband at work and couldn’t reach him. 

My husband is a member of the S.W.A.T. team, and when I called him at work about my scan results, I learned that he was in the middle of an active shooter situation. I couldn’t conceive how both of these highly stressful and emotional situations could be happening to us at the same time. Thankfully, my husband was unharmed in that incident. We would later learn that this event would give him time off that he would otherwise not have had so he could be with me when I needed him most.  

The evening that I was diagnosed with lung cancer, I spoke with one of my husband’s colleagues who works in the emergency department of our local hospital. He arranged for me to see a pulmonologist the very next day, Dec. 30, 2023. I received a biopsy, and three days later, it confirmed that I had extensive stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC). I was only 37 years old and have never smoked. 

My treatment and clinical trial 

I started my treatment right away and went through four rounds of chemotherapy with immunotherapy. My repeat scans showed good news–the cancer had shrunk! However, I was told that more treatment was needed to fight the cancer that remained. I understood that my treatment options were limited, and I felt like a clinical trial would be the best way to beat this. My oncologist was able to find a trial that had just opened, and I was going to be the first person to join! I honestly felt so excited to be on the cutting edge of a possible new treatment that could make a difference in my life and the lives of others.   

Before starting the trial there were moments when I felt nervous, but I also felt strongly that this was the best treatment decision for me. I began the clinical trial three weeks after I finished my fourth and final round of chemotherapy and immunotherapy.  

Since starting the clinical trial, I’ve had two more scans to monitor my progress. My first scan showed the cancer had continued to shrink, and my most recent scan showed no cancer at all! My doctor says I’m now in remission. 

My children 

My husband and I found that it was best to be open and honest with our children about all that was happening. We processed everything with them and kept the lines of communication open. We took a break from our homeschooling to focus on my treatment, and we gave them the choice of whether to visit me while I was being monitored in the hospital during the clinical trial. They chose not to come, and that was okay with me because imagining me in the hospital was frightening to them. We have a strong faith in God, and we all rely on that to get us through.  

My perspective  

I’m eternally grateful for the precise timing and numerous pieces that fit together, leading me to where I am today.  My faith is the biggest thing that has kept us all going. Even when things got very difficult, I could see God’s hand in the details. Recognizing even the smallest connections continues to bring me hope. 

I’m still in the clinical trial and will receive treatment every month for the next two years, as long as there are no complications. I generally feel really good and am not dealing with any real side effects. I would encourage people to be open to learning about and consider joining a clinical trial. The care I received throughout the trial was excellent. I was closely monitored and had regular bloodwork and scans. It feels great to play a part in getting a new treatment out to other people.