Cancer destroys my lungs

Inna’s story began with a routine Mantoux screening for tuberculosis. The body’s reaction worried the doctors. The physiologic pulmonologist sent her to a tuberculosis sanatorium where treatment was promptly initiated. Heavy drug dosages caused severe nausea and terrible leg pain. Inna, who is always active and cheerful, did not lose her upbeat mood, even when her schoolmates turned away from her calling her by an abusive name.

At the sanatorium, she found many new and supportive friends who themselves had been rejected by others. For six months Inna kept a positive attitude, hoping for improvement. Even when new symptoms arose – a serious cough and persistent elevated temperature of 37.7°C – doctors had no doubts that all symptoms were of tuberculosis.

All that aside, Inna was dreaming of the future where she is at the graduation party and about applying to and attending college. All her dreams seemed on track to realization. Inna hung on even when she was rejected for college because of TB treatment, and when being photographed was her only graduation party. She did not give up when an oncologist came and she was transferred to the Zaporizhzhia Regional Children's Hospital.

After diagnostic tests revealed that the disease was not tuberculosis, Inna underwent a six-hour operation to remove a tumor from her left lung. The diagnosis of lung cancer sounded like a death sentence. Six months of precious time had been lost without treatment! Inna continued to hold on and did not lose heart. Her school friends heard that she had cancer and began to visit her. Despite her illness, Inna mused: "Will my hair fall out? Will you buy me a beautiful headscarf of my choosing?". But her mother broken-heartedly answered: "It won't fall out! And if your hair falls out after chemotherapy, I will buy the most beautiful scarf!". Doctors dismissed the mother, promising nothing.

Four heavy courses of chemotherapy and two of immunotherapy with pembrolizumab (Keytruda) are complete. The tumor has shrunk and metastasis has stopped. This gives Inna great hope, but to reduce the tumor to a size at which it can be removed, will require at least three more courses of Pemetrexed. The next course costs ₴14,700 hryvnias (about €510).

Name: Dragun Inna, 24.10.2002

City: Zaporizhia

Diagnosis: mucoepidermal lung carcinoma