In May of 2023 I was diagnosed with Stage IV NSCLC. Nothing made sense and still doesn’t most days. Before my diagnosis I was constantly thinking about cancer because I, at 38, was the same age my mom was when she passed away of colon cancer. Thirty years ago she didn’t have many treatment options and fought a very good fight but passed away a mere 9 months after diagnosis. February 2024 marks my 9 months since diagnosis. I try to sit and celebrate these little milestones and be grateful to the many researchers who have labored day in and day out for the past 30 years to drastically change the outlook of people who face a similar diagnosis. I am living proof of their efforts not being in vain. But, I can’t help to think of how much further we need to go. Even though my prognosis is positive in the fact that I have many years ahead of me rather than months, I want more. I want longevity for everyone diagnosed with lung cancer. We must still press on and continue the good work and progress of cancer research. I am just an average, normal, healthy American who developed lung cancer for no reason. Anyone with lungs can get lung cancer and everyone deserves effective treatment, if not a cure.
