Keisha's Story
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GREENVILLE, S.C. (March 31st, 2009)-- If you're young and healthy, it's easy to think that there's not much reason to worry about your health and that an annual physical is something that other, older people have to think about, not you.
But for WYFF 4 Weathercaster Keisha Kirkland, getting that annual physical may have just saved her life.
Keisha, 36, said that she felt perfectly healthy, but because of a family history of heart disease, she had some tests run several months ago.
Her heart was fine, but doctors found that she had the beginning stages of lung cancer.
"I’ve never smoked. I’m young, you know, in shape, I exercise, eat well," Keisha told WYFF News 4's Jane Robelot. "But, hey, I’m still dealing with this."
Dr. James Stephenson of Greenville Hospital System, Keisha's surgeon, said discovering the cancer was almost as unlikely as her chances of having it.
"She decided to have a calcium scoring test to look for heart disease due to some family history," Stephenson said. "Just by chance this abnormal area in her lung was noted on that scan."
Once it was discovered, Stephenson removed a cancerous mass in Keisha's upper right lung and the surrounding lymph nodes that had also been affected.
The cancer was diagnosed as Stage Three, meaning treatment included radiation and chemotherapy.
"The word 'cancer' frightened me the most," Keisha said. "Chemotherapy wasn't so scary because I knew it would be part of my life. It wasn't like I had a choice."
Support System
Keisha said that she is fortunate to have a great family support system.
She is married to former Clemson star and NFL All-Pro linebacker Levon Kirkland and is the mother of a 5-year-old daughter.
"You're so proactive in your life, so used to making things happen," Levon Kirkland said. "When something like this happens, you realize you really don't have a lot of control. There's nothing much you can do but just be kind of supportive and be there."
Kennedy Kirkland, their daughter, said that she tries to help her mother, "by giving her massages and rubbing her feet and praying for her every night."
Keisha's mother, Linda Tillman has been there to help, too.
"I took a leave of absence from work and here I am," Tillman said. " I'm going to be here until she doesn't need me anymore."
'Why Me? Why Not Me?'
Keisha is now through her first round of treatment and, after 12 weeks, she's back on the air at WYFF 4.
Her doctors said that everything is looking good so far and that she can go ahead with three final treatments in mid-April.
"It makes you appreciate life from a different perspective for sure," Keisha said. "I just thank God that they found it early enough to where I have a chance to have a normal, productive healthy life."
The powerful chemotherapy drugs are injected into a port under Keisha's skin that was implanted before she started the treatment.
"The radiation I'm getting is concentrated right in the middle of my chest, so what happens is, after I get radiation, I have a coughing spell because it's irritated," Keisha said.
While the treatment can be painful and frightening, Keisha chooses to stay upbeat.
"You know, instead of saying 'why me?', I should say 'why not me?' and find out what I can do with it that's positive for everybody else."
Stephenson said that every day he sees patients who benefit from periodic physical exams and, sadly, those whose conditions are worse for having ignored them.
"It's important that patients see their physicians regularly," Stephenson said. "There are things we see when they come in on a routine basis."
Keisha said that there was no reason to ever expect that she had lung cancer, but early discovery of it during her exam has had a huge impact on her prospect for a full recovery.
"I just want to let people know 'enjoy today, tomorrow is not promised,' But, God's willing, I'll be here tomorrow." Copyright 2009 by WYFF4.com
GREENVILLE, S.C. (March 31st, 2009)-- If you're young and healthy, it's easy to think that there's not much reason to worry about your health and that an annual physical is something that other, older people have to think about, not you.
But for WYFF 4 Weathercaster Keisha Kirkland, getting that annual physical may have just saved her life.
Keisha, 36, said that she felt perfectly healthy, but because of a family history of heart disease, she had some tests run several months ago.
Her heart was fine, but doctors found that she had the beginning stages of lung cancer.
"I’ve never smoked. I’m young, you know, in shape, I exercise, eat well," Keisha told WYFF News 4's Jane Robelot. "But, hey, I’m still dealing with this."
Dr. James Stephenson of Greenville Hospital System, Keisha's surgeon, said discovering the cancer was almost as unlikely as her chances of having it.
"She decided to have a calcium scoring test to look for heart disease due to some family history," Stephenson said. "Just by chance this abnormal area in her lung was noted on that scan."
Once it was discovered, Stephenson removed a cancerous mass in Keisha's upper right lung and the surrounding lymph nodes that had also been affected.
The cancer was diagnosed as Stage Three, meaning treatment included radiation and chemotherapy.
"The word 'cancer' frightened me the most," Keisha said. "Chemotherapy wasn't so scary because I knew it would be part of my life. It wasn't like I had a choice."
Support System
Keisha said that she is fortunate to have a great family support system.
She is married to former Clemson star and NFL All-Pro linebacker Levon Kirkland and is the mother of a 5-year-old daughter.
"You're so proactive in your life, so used to making things happen," Levon Kirkland said. "When something like this happens, you realize you really don't have a lot of control. There's nothing much you can do but just be kind of supportive and be there."
Kennedy Kirkland, their daughter, said that she tries to help her mother, "by giving her massages and rubbing her feet and praying for her every night."
Keisha's mother, Linda Tillman has been there to help, too.
"I took a leave of absence from work and here I am," Tillman said. " I'm going to be here until she doesn't need me anymore."
'Why Me? Why Not Me?'
Keisha is now through her first round of treatment and, after 12 weeks, she's back on the air at WYFF 4.
Her doctors said that everything is looking good so far and that she can go ahead with three final treatments in mid-April.
"It makes you appreciate life from a different perspective for sure," Keisha said. "I just thank God that they found it early enough to where I have a chance to have a normal, productive healthy life."
The powerful chemotherapy drugs are injected into a port under Keisha's skin that was implanted before she started the treatment.
"The radiation I'm getting is concentrated right in the middle of my chest, so what happens is, after I get radiation, I have a coughing spell because it's irritated," Keisha said.
While the treatment can be painful and frightening, Keisha chooses to stay upbeat.
"You know, instead of saying 'why me?', I should say 'why not me?' and find out what I can do with it that's positive for everybody else."
Stephenson said that every day he sees patients who benefit from periodic physical exams and, sadly, those whose conditions are worse for having ignored them.
"It's important that patients see their physicians regularly," Stephenson said. "There are things we see when they come in on a routine basis."
Keisha said that there was no reason to ever expect that she had lung cancer, but early discovery of it during her exam has had a huge impact on her prospect for a full recovery.
"I just want to let people know 'enjoy today, tomorrow is not promised,' But, God's willing, I'll be here tomorrow." Copyright 2009 by WYFF4.com
