When Appleton resident Joe Toonen began feeling pain and numbness in his left arm in the fall of 2021, his first thought was that it might be heart-related.
“My heart looked wonderful, which was great news,” he said. “But I eventually got some not-so-great news.”
That same coronary calcium scan revealed something unexpected: a growth near Toonen’s lung that hadn’t appeared on a previous scan. Initially, doctors suspected a fungal infection or pneumonia.
At the time, Toonen and his wife, Ann – recently retired from teaching – were preparing for a celebratory trip to Maine. With medical clearance to travel, they went ahead with their plans and Toonen scheduled a follow-up scan for after their return.
The repeat imaging showed that the spot on his lung hadn’t changed. A visit to pulmonologist Dr. Scott Parrish led to a biopsy and on December 7, 2021, Toonen received a diagnosis that would change his life: stage 3 lung cancer.
“I don’t know if I heard the rest of what Dr. Parrish said that day,” Toonen recalls. “The rest of 2021 was a whirlwind of activity.”
Surgery and Treatment
That same day, Toonen heard the sound of a bell ringing outside the cancer center. It’s a tradition that marks the end of a patient’s treatment journey. He made himself a promise: “I’m going to ring the bell someday.”
Toonen leaned on the expertise of his brother, Tim, an oncologist in Minnesota, who joined calls with Toonen’s care team to help him understand and evaluate his treatment options.
Doctors recommended a combination of chemotherapy and radiation to shrink the tumor before a surgical procedure to remove the lower lobe of his left lung. Toonen started treatment on December 31, 2021.
A colleague of Toonen’s brother specializes in surgery for lung cancer patients. That led Toonen to choose to undergo surgery in Minnesota in April 2022. He completed his chemotherapy and radiation treatments, along with immunotherapy, through ThedaCare Cancer Care.
Toonen, a semi-retired public accountant, said his treatments were tiring but he tried to maintain a positive attitude throughout his experience.
“A lot of people were enduring worse than I was,” he said. “I tell friends, if you think you’re having a bad day, go to the cancer center. People are going through treatment but they’re very positive. The little things that we worry about, we can get through it.”
Outstanding Care
Reflecting on his experience, Toonen said he’s grateful for the care he received through ThedaCare Cancer Care. That extends to people at every level, from schedulers to phlebotomists, to his nurse navigator and all his nursing team members.
He fondly remembers Linda, the phlebotomist who drew his blood and often added festive stickers to brighten patients’ days.
“I saw her recently and gave her a hug,” he said. “Sammy, who’s a scheduler, is awesome. Nicole, my navigation nurse, was a rock star.”
Even after his care, Toonen was still touched by support from ThedaCare. He was a guest of honor during the ThedaCare Family of Foundations’ 23rd annual High Flyin’ Golf Outing in July 2025.
Toonen, a father of two adult children, is also thankful for the support of his wife, Ann, as well as for the care extended to her. During his treatment, the couple took advantage of palliative care through ThedaCare. This type of care helps patients and their loved ones cope with serious illness.
“It’s often harder on your significant others because they want to understand and empathize with you,” Toonen said. “Palliative care was amazing in supporting us both throughout the journey.”
Daisy Boehm, a Nurse Practitioner with ThedaCare Cancer Care, said her team provides well-rounded care to each patient.
“We incorporate a multidisciplinary approach for lung cancers,” she said. “In most situations, it would involve a pulmonologist, a surgeon, the radiation oncologist and medical oncology. In some situations, we also incorporate some supportive services, such as palliative care.”
Busting Bias and Giving Back
As a non-smoker with no family history of lung cancer, Toonen said his lung cancer diagnosis was a shock. Later, he discovered that his home had high radon levels, a known risk factor for lung cancer.
In its early stages, lung cancer is often asymptomatic. Individuals may not notice initial symptoms until the disease has begun to progress. Some people may be able to identify early signs of the condition, which may include:
- A persistent cough or coughing up blood or rust-colored phlegm
- Chest pain that worsens with deep breathing, coughing or laughing
- Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
- Feeling unusually tired or weak
- Experiencing frequent or recurring pneumonia or bronchitis infections
Toonen said he found himself repeatedly asked the same question: “Are you a smoker?”
The question still gives him pause.
“There’s a stigma attached with lung cancer that isn’t really fair to people,” he said. “Nobody deserves lung cancer.”
His experience has inspired him to advocate for lung cancer awareness and research funding, especially given the perceived bias with funding for research for the disease.
“We need to pay forward our good fortune,” Toonen said. “I’m here today because of remarkable advancements in cancer care.”
After completing treatment, Toonen fulfilled his vow and rang the cancer center bell.
Today, he’s a part-time chief financial officer/chief operating officer for a home health care company, staying active and traveling often. Every six months, he returns for a CT scan and checkup with Boehm.
“We incorporate a multidisciplinary approach for lung cancers,” she said. “In most situations, it would involve a pulmonologist, a surgeon, the radiation oncologist and medical oncology. In some situations, we also incorporate some supportive services, such as palliative care.”
Now approaching his 60th birthday, Toonen recently celebrated another milestone, his daughter’s wedding.
“You’re diagnosed with cancer and it’s eye-opening. It shows you’re not invincible,” he said. “I’m not going to wait to do things. Live your life. Live it every day.”
His new perspective on life has helped shape his important message for others.
“Don’t ignore symptoms,” he said. “If your body is telling you something, get it checked out.”
Information about risks, warning signs, detection and diagnosis
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