Isabel's Goodbye Amid Lung Cancer
- Veneno actress Isable Torres has been battling lung cancer since 2018 and recently posted a goodbye video on Instagram for fans, as her condition has worsened.
- There are two main types of lung cancer: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and Small cell lung cancer (SCLC). NSCLC is the most common of the two, and makes up 85% of lung cancer cases.
- Treatment options for lung cancer can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of these treatments.
Speaking in Spanish in the video, Torres captions her video post writing simply, “My last Video. Hasta pronto.” She speaks to the camera in a heartfelt way, with a raspy-sounding voice. Lung cancer treatments can impact the vocal cords.
Read MoreView this post on InstagramTorres is known for her work on Veneno, which provided a snapshot of daily life for Spanish trans women like Torres. Out magazine writes of Veneno, “It showed that trans women aren't one-dimensional, and that we deserve to be loved and remembered and centered in stories about us. And Torres is one of the main reasons for that.”
Torres is a powerful trailblazer. In 2005, she was the first transsexual candidate for Queen of the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Carnival, and she was also the first Canarian transsexual who was able to change her ID to her sexual identity in 1996.
Understanding Lung Cancer
Torres has treated her lung cancer with chemotherapy. Earlier this year, on her birthday, she shared that the treatment was having negative physical impacts.
She wrote on social media, "Today I am a little sad because the truth is that I am on my birthday and I am very ill. It's not that it's the best, but hey, I wanted to do a live show because they have sent me many bouquets of flowers, they have sent me many plants, many gifts, many people who love me and all I wanted was to say thank you.”
There are two main types of lung cancer. And the type of lung cancer a person is diagnosed with will inform their treatment path, as well as the predicted progression of the cancer. The two types of lung cancer are:
- Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type and makes up about 85% of cases
- Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is less common, but it tends to grow faster than NSCLC and is treated very differently
Lung cancer is a serious cancer, but fewer people annually are getting diagnosed with this disease because of a decline in smoking rates. Additionally, advancements in treatment options exist, too, which means better prognoses for some patients.
Symptoms of lung cancer typically include:
- Sudden and unexplained weight loss
- Constant coughing that becomes painful over time
- Shortness of breath
- Changes in voice or difficulty speaking without getting winded
- Pain in the torso, mid- and upper-back, and shoulders
- Discoloration or a sudden change in color of mucus and saliva
What Happens When You've Been Newly Diagnosed With Lung Cancer
Lung Cancer Treatment Options
Treatment options for lung cancer can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of these treatments.
New treatments, such as immunotherapy and targeted agents, are dramatically improving the prognosis and quality of life for people diagnosed with this disease.
Treatment for Stage 3 Lung Cancer: Surgery, Radiation, Chemotherapy, and Immunotherapy
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