(A personal story from a young cancer sufferer)
Joseph Neale’s voice is clear and soulful. So, it’s hard to believe that he has had two-thirds of his right lung removed after being diagnosed with lung cancer at 20.
The talented singer-songwriter began complaining of a dry, persistent cough. Though an initial chest X-ray suggested pneumonia, a subsequent CT scan indicated he had a tumour which was diagnosed as cancer, leading to the removal of a large part of his lung. Here are five lessons Joseph learned about living with lung cancer.
1. Nothing in life is guaranteed
Lung Cancer has the stigma of being the smoker’s disease. In fact, as Joseph learned the hard way, 15 percent of lung cancers have nothing at all to do with smoking. It turned out that he had a rare genetic mutation, similar to his cousin Haydain Neale of Juno Award-winning band Jacksoul, that increases their susceptibility to the disease.
2. Inhale positivity and exhale fear
The tumor was just 3cm in size, but its location was bad, right in his bronchus so surgery was needed. He thought he would not be able to sing anymore, and just live with the cancer until he died.
It was a bleak perspective, but it didn’t take long before Joseph’s positivity reemerged. “I started reading, anything to do with positive mindsets and success — it kept me on track.”
Joseph’s biggest inspiration though, came with the birth of his daughter who irrevocably changed Joseph’s outlook.
3. Sometimes it’s better to risk than to regret.
Surgery was the best option for an otherwise healthy patient but he had legitimate concerns about how it would affect his voice. Fortunately, the surgery was successful and he actually began to sing in the recovery room until his brothers, yelled at him to stop.
4. Turning a setback into a comeback.
Cancer-free, Joseph is back full time as a recording artist and promoting his work although he must deal with the side-effects of a raspier voice and shortness of breath. “Sometimes I feel the difference and the emptiness on one side, and it’s difficult to cope with, but I’ve been doing everything regularly, playing basketball, running, working out and singing, holding my notes”.
5. If you have a voice, use it.
Lung cancer receives only a small portion of cancer-related research dollars so Joseph is now using his musical talent and personal story to help get the message out there. And as an advocate for lung cancer awareness, he is telling younger generations that cancer can affect anyone, no matter how old.
Joseph’s story in his words is available on the Ontario Lung Foundation’s site. The Ontario Lung Foundation is one of the 21 participating charities of Federated Health Charities, as it the Canadian Cancer Society.
