Hi although I still read posts, I’ve not been on it, for quite a while.
I want to give those who have only just started their journey , some hope. When we hear the word cancer, then add lung to the word, we panic, freak out and feel like, our life is over. But, I’m here to tell you, it’s not.
In 2019 after falling through the gaps of surveillance. I was given the choice, of having the top part of my left lung removed. They couldn’t tell me if I had cancer, from the other test I’d had. But, knew what ever was present, had grown. So, no brainer really, I obviously agreed.
I was told it was cancer, stage 1 . However, six months later, it had spread to the other lung and I was given a diagnosis of stage four. ( Head banger)
I was then given the opportunity of trying immunotherapy ( Pembrolizumab) which I grabbed , first three weekly, then six weekly. I was lucky, the immunotherapy, rid my lungs of any evidence of disease. And, this continued throughout all of my next scans, for fifteen months. Until, I had to stop the immunotherapy due to server colitis, in 2021
Since 2021, I have remained disease free. Today, I have had a discussion with my consultant and I’m happy to report, I’m still NED . So, six years since diagnosis , four and a half years NED . Only another six months to make it to the five year mark ( fingers crossed)
I can remember the first time I heard, the word cancer, it was so terrible. To say I was scared is an understatement . I was , in a loving relationship and had a great , supportive son. But, it’s sometimes hard to talk about your darkest thoughts with your family. Then, I found this site. The people, on here were so kind and supportive. And, it was with there support, I made it through those dark days ( Three people in particular, two no longer with us)
So, I wanted to share my story with those starting on a journey , no one wants to travel. I want to tell you to be strong. The treatments available these days are enabling life’s to live and live longer. I’m a positive person and I urge you all to be the same. It’s your life and with today’s medical advances combined with your positivity . I believe we can make this horrible disease a chronic one .
i wish everyone only good news as they travel forwards
“ Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning “ ( Albert Einstein)
Hi marie1964 lovely to see your name pop up, and with such a lovely positive post too! It is great to hear you are doing so well, I can imagine what the celebrations will be like when you hit that 5 year mark, which I know you will!
Thank you for taking the time to post. It really is so reassuring for the people who are at the start of their journeys to hear from someone who has been through it and is out the other side. You are so right about the treatments and how far they have come. So many people now are living much longer lives with lung cancer than ever before! And there are new treatments being trialled all the time. I remember a time before immunotherapy, and how that became a trial for lung cancer, and how excited we were for members here to trial it, and look how far that has come.
Thank you again, this has really made my day reading your post. X
Hi Maria1964
What a lovely post .
i was diagnosed Jan 25 Stage 1V and spread . It’s such a shock hearing the words Cancer/spread. I started bagging clothes, binning items etc . Couple of months down the road I wished hadn’t been so
hasty.
Ive had 6 courses of immunotherapy and hoping to move to 6 weekly intervals. Going well meantime but spine mets are causing pain.
Thanks for your update
Carol
Aww liz thank you for sharing that it means alot 
️ xxx
