Much to my amazement, and that of my family, friends and medical team, today marks the anniversary of Day One of a 10 year journey with stage 4 lung cancer. My sister calls me a unicorn because 10 year survivors of this disease are not supposed to exist. At the risk of offending Descartes - I exist, therefore I am.
Another way to look at it might just be that today is Day One of Year Eleven. There is something beautiful and magical to be found in each day. Some days you have to look hard to find it but it’s there.
My greatest hope on this anniversary is that many of you join me achieving this mythical status. I hope that so many of you achieve this status that we no longer have mythical status. That we become the norm rather than the outliers. There are other unicorns out there and I’m thrilled to have met them. But I want to see more.
I’m here today because of medical research. I’m here because someone, somewhere, somewhen participated in clinical trials. I’m here because people uncounted donated to medical research. Without those two things I would not exist. Please support them. Donate. Participate.
Thank you to my family, friends and God for bringing me this far.
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Denzie
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You are an inspiration to all of us! It takes care and hard work to get to where you are - congratulations for learning everything you could and using that knowledge!
congratulations Denzie - My 10 years will mid January next year. I've met several patients who are 20+ years out in my work with lung cancer research - one of the reasons we think such survivors don't exist is the focus on 5 yr survival as many patients are not followed up with cancer beyond that date and we assume they're no longer around - however for non small cell there are survivors in every stage - and with newer treatments that is changing all the time. long you may have such anniversaries - and unlike unicorns, we are not mythical or extinct but real people, valuing every day.... keep up the good work.
Denzie, congratulations on being a Unicorn! I am so grateful that you work magic through supporting others on this forum and everywhere you go. You are a beacon of hope for me.
Congratulations Denzie -- That is a amazing accomplishment especially in the Lung Cancer world and one I hope more and more of us will achieve! Not to mention a huge inspiration!
Congratulations Denzie. You truly are an inspiration to us all. The road with cancer is not easy or straight, but you have managed it with wisdom and grace. Here's to many, many more years.
Congratulations to you Denzie! What a milestone 10 years is!! You are such a wonderful inspiration and friend to all in the lung cancer communities! Here's to another 10 years!!
Your comment about being so appreciative of all those who take part in research is really poignant and heartwarming - so many people take part in clinical trials and research - some of which show positive outcomes and change treatment pathways and many of which don't show such promise but without these brave altruistic people, we would never know.... so recognition to all who take part in research, knowing that the benefit is likely to be for others rather than themselves.... and also enables Pharma companies, medical device companies and therapies like radiotherapy/proton beam to develop innovative treatments to target newer aspects that are discovered as a result of such research..... well done all concerned and more power to you Denzie....
Awesome!!! Congrats. I love reading your posts. You are so knowledgeable and help so many. I aim to be there and longer. It’s only been four months but you and others are my inspiration and my heroes!!!
Many blessings to you and everyone who brought us this far. I feel very blessed. 💕😊
Congrat's Denzie it is awesome that 10 yrs past by and God is standing by will continue to stand by your side for the next 10. It has been a hard 10 months for me and hoping I can change months into yrs like you.
Many blessings to you and enjoy the next 10 yrs. Just need to know one thing what treatment were you getting? I'm on Keytruda only and seems to be a slow process.
Keytruda didn’t exist when I was diagnosed. I had cisplatin and etopicide with concurrent radiation. My oncologist selected it because my overall health was very good. My response was not the norm and I have been included in the Exceptional Responders Study out of Harvard. My treatment has been replaced as first line with treatment that worked longer for more people than it did.
So happy for you. And very grateful for all your support to all of us. You are an exemplar as someone who doesn't stop hoping & doing! You truly lift our spirits beyond words!
Congratulations and yes Denzie you and your hope and faith and knowledge with this disease has me battling stage 4. I do chemo every Wednesday with a week off for four rounds to shrink a tumor in my chest and I’m scared every day but it’s shrinking and I watch the Mets in brain should they reappear and the strength I’ve achieved is due to you from my day one of diagnoses and I thank you for that and god bless you and happy cancerversary 10 years❤️❤️❤️❤️
Did I tell you about one of my early survivor/teachers who was diagnosed because of his brain mets? He lived 18 years with lung cancer. He was the first person who really gave me hope.
Hi Denzie and congratulations on 10 years. Your words and encouragement have been such a blessing to all us cancer victims. You give us newly diagnosed reasons and hope to fight on. Thank you so much!❤️ You were the first to reach out to me and are such a blessing. Wishing you continued good health.
Congratulations 10 years is great. I feel the same as you grateful for everyday and grateful for Research and people participating in trials. I will have been diagnosed 7 years in November.
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Calm my nerves please 🙏🏼
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