Lana

Hello everyone, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 NSCLC one 2015. I am EGFR so have been on both liquid chemos and pills for my EGF. In 2017 my cancer decided to visit my brain so I went through Cyber Knife radiation which worked on my 6lesions. MRI brain scans every 3months plus Pet-Scans every 3months. Since 2017 till now I have had 3 more lesions and thank God for the radiation as so far no activity. Just 1 of them shows a little activity but my radiologist will do another MRI in January 2022 to see if any more growth and if so then another radiation. My lung tumor has been dormant since 2018 but still having the Pet scans done but now only every 4-5 months. I feel so good physically and mentally so I asked my Oncologist just last year(2020) in August if I could take a break from chemo since I have been on it since 2015. I thought about this for awhile and talking to my husband, which was difficult. He of course was reluctant but agreed with my decision. My Oncologist said ok lets see how I do and if any change in my Pet scans then back on. Well it’s now been 15months without chemo and my last Pet scan showed no activity. Yes, indeed I am scared but I was scared on chemo. I am taking chance a but with all the new advancement in Lung Cancer treatment I have a lot of hope. Hope is what makes me go on living with positive feelings that I can indeed go on with this journey living my best life. I would like to say to all of you out there that I have done a journal from the beginning of this onset and that is the best medicine for me as I am totally in charge of my mind and say just what my true inner feelings are. This journey has made me a totally different person and in a good way. We all don’t live for the moment but with this now I have looked at my life and I missed out on so much time that I just didn’t have time for. Now I take each moment and cherish it and all the ones in my life that I so love. I see even the little things that it all matters and I feel calmness in me. This disease has maybe taught me a life’s lesion to slowdown and appreciate this life as I now have and it’s a blessing not a disease. Thank you for listening to me and there is HOPE for all of you out there. I have beaten the odds as I read in the beginning maybe 3-5years well I proved them wrong now it will be 7years in February 2022 . As the saying goes “Stop and smell the roses”. Oh so true..