HIGH POINT, N.C. — Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute.
A woman from the Triad who has fought for 18 years to beat the statistics shared her story.
High Point is home to 66-year-old Kathy Davis. It's where you can find her spending time with her plants and family.
"I'm real close to my mom, my brother and sister," Davis said.
Her loved ones live right around the corner; the fellowship keeps her going.
"I go with my sister and do things with her. We are into painting right now," Davis said.
It's moments like this she never thought she'd experience. And not taking things for granted comes easy. Davis was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in 2005 at 44 years old.
"I was told that I didn't have but six to nine months to live," Davis said.
The cancer spread from her lungs to her brain and stomach.
"They ended up doing surgery on my stomach and taking pieces out of my intestines. They gave me gamma knife for my head," said Davis.
Digestion problems initially led her to the doctor's office.
"They told me they would do an x-ray on my chest, put me on a treadmill, and check my heart. They said it wasn't my heart so I said well, 'I know what it is then,' it's because of my father," Davis said.
Davis has a long history of loved ones who smoke.
"The whole family smoked. The father, the mother, everyone smoked, and when we got old enough, that's the thing we're doing," said Davis.
Her father and one of her sisters ended up being diagnosed with lung cancer too. Sadly, they lost the battle.
"I tried to quit smoking after my father passed away because I was so worried about it," Davis shared.
Her father didn't live past one year after his diagnosis. But for her, she's made it past 18 years.
"I was doing a lot of praying and asking God to help me. It was going to take everything I could to do it, so I finally quit," Davis said.
Dr. Mohamed Mohamed an Oncologist with Cone Health has helped Davis through her journey.
"There are people who would beat that odd of the one or two-year survival and they would be here for many many years. That's why I encourage people to try their best to stay positive and fight the cancer," Dr. Mohamed said.
He said certain treatments and Davis's desire to fight helped her get through nearly two decades.
"She received chemo, she received radiation, she received surgery to the tumor when it spread to the small intestines. So, we applied all the modalities that we could have for her," Mohamed explained.
Davis is now proud to say she only has to visit her doctor for checkups once a year.
"I haven't had a treatment since 2011. So, from the good doctor to God's blessing, I'm still here," Davis shared.
She often finds herself talking to God in shock for making it through so many years with stage 4 cancer.
"My mom always tells me it's because he knows I needed you to help me," Davis said.
She realizes now it's to be there for the ones who love her most.