I started smoking when I was just 16, back in the 1970s. Growing up on a farm, I didn’t think much about it—my mom and stepdad smoked, so it seemed normal. I remember my mom once telling me that I looked like a chicken with a straw stuck in its mouth when I first started smoking in front of her. That memory always stuck with me, but it wasn’t enough to make me quit.
For years, I brushed off the warnings from doctors, friends, and family. Even when my doctor told me he could see early signs of emphysema, I didn’t take it seriously. It wasn’t until December 2019 that my world was shaken. My wife and I were watching a movie when I let out a heavy sneeze that felt like a hot knife stabbing me in the chest. My wife thought I was having a heart attack and rushed me to the hospital. They did an ECG, but my heart was fine, so we went home. But things didn’t get better.
For three weeks, I was so tired and out of it that I could barely function. I ended up in the hospital three times, and on the third visit, the doctor finally sent me for a CT scan. That’s when they found it—a mass on my lung that looked like a sea serpent. I was diagnosed with stage three lung cancer.
A Life-Changing Diagnosis
The diagnosis hit me like a ton of bricks. The doctors had to perform a biopsy, but the first attempt failed, so they went in through my throat to get a sample. It was confirmed it was stage three small cell lung cancer—a particularly aggressive form that often recurs, especially in the brain.
I quit smoking in December, just before my cancer diagnosis. I knew something was wrong. We went to Mexico in January, and it was a hard trip because I felt like I was dying. When we got back, I kept going to the hospital until they finally did a CT scan and found the cancer. I thought I was a goner, but my faith and positivity kept me strong. Those two things really helped me. I hadn’t even started chemotherapy yet, but I was determined to fight. The chemotherapy was grueling, consisting of four rounds administered intravenously, each lasting three days. I had an allergic reaction to one of the drugs, so I had to switch to taking it in pill form at home. After that, I underwent 25 rounds of radiation to my lungs. Once the radiation was done, they performed prophylactic cranial radiation on my brain because small cell lung cancer often recurs aggressively there. The radiation is supposed to keep working in my system for five years, but it causes some fogginess in my brain, and I sometimes lose my train of thought.
In addition to lung cancer, I’ve also had sleep apnea for 24 years. In 2020, the same year I was diagnosed with lung cancer, they increased the pressure on my CPAP machine. The next step is a BiPAP, but for now, I’m managing with the CPAP. The radiation and smoking also led to COPD, which I was diagnosed with in 2012. I’ve tried different medications, but nothing seems to be the complete solution. My oncologist told me that the longer the cancer stays away, the less chance it has of coming back. I live with that thought every day, but I try not to dwell on it. My advice for anyone trying to quit smoking or facing a cancer diagnosis is to stay strong, be positive, and have faith. Think of your health first. I didn’t, and it nearly cost me everything. If anything good came out of this, it’s that my story has encouraged others to quit. My daughter stopped almost instantly after years of trying, and even friends quit because they didn’t want to face what I went through. I just wish I had quit 40 years ago.
Connection with Lung Saskatchewan
I first heard about Lung Saskatchewan on Facebook through a raffle ad and decided to buy a ticket. Later, I saw a post about the Lung Sask Cabaret in 2024 and was eager to attend. I reached out and was grateful to be able to go. It was the best time I’d had in a long while, especially since being diagnosed with lung cancer. I truly admire what Lung Saskatchewan is doing to support people like me living with lung disease. I’ve also learned more about their programs and resources and the important work they do to improve lung health in our province.
A New Normal
Life is different now. I used to sing for seniors and had a band for years, but it’s getting tough on my voice now. I’ve thought about packing it in, but music has always been such a big part of my life. I used to ride my bike, walk, and hike, but I can’t do any of that anymore. Golfing is about the only thing I still do, and even then, I always rent a cart. It’s just the way my life is now. But despite it all, I’m still here. And as long as I am, I’ll keep fighting.
Yours Sincerely,
Malcolm Foster
P.S. Lung Saskatchewan’s online support communities, coordinated by certified health professionals, provide a space for patients and their caregivers to connect, share, and support each other. Learn more at https://www.lungsask.ca/lungs/programs-support/communities-support.