About Junebug

Junebug

I was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer on October 2021. This was a complete shock and it came following severe pain and collapse after experiencing a stitch like pain under my left rib cage. After collapsing in pain at the our farm at Kojonup WA I ended up at Fiona Stanley Hospital. They managed the pain and sent me home. I had thankfully already had a CT scan and blood tests that were ordered by another Dr and this showed that I had a mass on my adrenal gland. Following a PET scan and a referral to an Adrenal Specialist he identified that I had lung cancer and adrenal cancer and a lymph node with cancer. I was then booked in to hospital for a biopsy on my lung and a meeting with an oncologist. I was told that at 58 I had stage 4 lung cancer and would die within 6 months if I did not have treatment. I started treatment in November 2021 and had a massively strong allergic reaction to the chemotherapy. I refused to have more. My feeling was that as I was not "sick" when I arrived at the oncologist then I refused to have something that was going to make me feel sick and awful for goodness knows how long. I was then told that the other option was immunotherapy but there was no guarantee that it would work with the type of cancer I had. I have been on immunotherapy for 14 months now and feeling really well. I have a little bit of joint pain. Otherwise I have been able to maintain a normal life and I feel well. I have been able to travel and enjoy all the days that I have. It has beena game changer. I am so thankful for the research that has made immunotherapy possible. It is just so awesome. I am doing all the things that I have wanted to and continue to. I know that I will not be cured of the cancer, but I want to live my best life for as long as I possibly can. I have been married, since the diagnosis to my long term partner Steve. That was on my bucket list. I have been able to retire from work after 22 years in the Public Service. I have seen one of my sons buy his first home and one of my others by a farmlet which has been a long term goal of his. I went on a cruise on the Queen Elizabeth. There are lots of other things that I would like to do. A trip to Scotland and one to New Zealand is in there but I wonder if there are other things small things that I should add to that list.

Junebug

I am not sure if you still want responses to this. But yes there is a huge stigma in regard to lung cancer, people assume that if you have lung cancer you must have smoked. But 20% of people who develop lung cancer have never smoked. In my experience I have never smoked, never worked in a dusty industry, always had a good diet, my parents never smoked, my husband of 27 years never smoked. I did live in Thailand for some time and in Bangkok for 14 months that was a high pollution environment due to the traffic and dust from the street. Our noses were always full of a black substance. But that was back in the 80's and we are now in 2020. So I have no idea if exposure that long ago could have caused the cancer. I do believe that anyone who has developed cancer should be treated. Many people were not aware when they first started smoking that it was addictive or that it caused cancer and the cigarette company died this for a very long time. Dr's used to smoke they used to recommend smoking to control nervousness, the army gave cigarettes to the soldiers. So we cannot deny treatment to those that have lung cancer. WE cannot be sure that smoking is the cause of the cancer as in my case what has been the cause when I never smoked. Even if you do smoke all your life you may not ever die from lung cancer. I have known people that smoked from the age of 14 until there were 80 and they did not die from lung cancer.

Junebug

I was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in October of 2021. It was in both lungs and my adrenal gland and in one of my lymph nodes. I have none of the typical risk factors. I have never smoked, my parents never smoked. My husband of 27 years never smoked. I have never lived in a house with people that smoked. I have never worked in a dusty industry. I have never worked with chemicals. I have been a public servant for 23 years.

Junebug

Junebug

I have found that it's so important to be very proactive with your care. I too have lung cancer and was stage 4 when diagnosed and told that I had only 6 months to live if we did nothing. I was not really given any other options other than Chemo. But I had a very bad reaction (allergic) to the chemo they gave me. I decided not to continue with that treatment and if there was no other option I would start palliative care. But then the oncologist suggested Immunotherapy and that has been working so well for me. We are now 14 months down the road and tumors have shrunk, cancer has not spread and I feel well. I have had little to no side effects with the immunotherapy. I was not ill when I found out I had cancer and I refused to be sick or live a life with no quality. Of course this is different for everyone but I wanted to have a happy fulfilling remainder of my life not be bed ridden 2 weeks out of every 3. I did change oncologists just due to travel - I wanted to be closer to home. That was a seamless transition. But I also have an amazing GP. I pretty much talk to her about anything that is not directly related to the lung cancer, but she is interested in that and is taking a proactive approach too. Good luck with everything.

Junebug

There are also lung cancer nurses that you can arrange to talk to. I have found them so helpful and caring. There needs to be more of them but reach out to them if you can. Here is the number 1800 654 301

Junebug

That is so awesome - I love it - being a celebrant will be great. How cool !

Junebug

Hi Dee I have lung cancer too - never smoked or had any of the risk factors. I was diagnosed 14 months ago stage 4. I did not do well on chemo - I am having immunotherapy and it's been going really well. No side effects and tumors are shrinking and cancer has not spread beyond the initial places when I was diagnosed. I'd love to chat to you some more. I am looking for some bucket list things too. I am hoping I've got longer than 5 years but that is sadly the average. Take care.

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