I'm a 10 year survivor...

[janeg4]

It was 10 years ago today that I had an open Thoracotomy to remove Upper right lobe , my tumour was almost 7cms NSCLC ,stage 2b .. followed by Adjuvant Chemo and all that entails.

I can't really express how blessed I feel how lucky I have been and how happy that I can share this milestone on this marvellous forum

I've had 2 more grandchildren since then , enjoyed many great holidays with friends and family ,had ups and downs , the passing of my Mother and sister and i got myself a dog he's almost 9 and has helped me through my recovery . I retired over 4 years ago but I still do the odd shift at my local hospital.

Today I will celebrate with my family enjoy a meal together and a glass of Champagne or maybe two .

In 10 years there have been many advances in LC treatment ,many more of us living longer and being cured of this disease ,

I want to send you all my best wishes in your own personal journeys. I will raise a glass to you all and as I feel a tear coming I'll sign off now ..

Jane xx

[Denzie]

wonderful to read your experience. My sister call long term survivors like us unicorns. It’s a wonderful thing to be and there are more of us all the time.

I hope the champagne was wonderful and that you had a lovely time kicking off this next trip around the sun.

[janeg4 in reply to Denzie]

Denzie thank you very much and I'm delighted to be a Unicorn lol !!! My granddaughter will love that .

It's a strange feeling today I find myself to be a bit emotional which has been quite unlike me ,memories I suppose it could be expected on this wonderful anniversary ❤️.

I'm 60 next year Caribbean cruise booked for January!!!

Best wishes

Jane

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Hello Jane,

It sounds like you have had a tough few year’s, 10 years after treatment a celebration with champagne is defiantly well deserved. As you have said over the last 10 years treatment for lung cancer has made many advances with different types of new treatments now available and this has improved lung cancer survival rates.

It is inspiring for others to hear your experiences and thank you for sharing your story with us.

Regards

Lung Cancer Support Team

[Calmrain]

Jane. Your post made my heart sing because you are a positive role model for those of us just starting this journey. I am so happy that you have come so far with your treatments with a great sense of humour and still a youthful way about you. Grandchildren are the icing on the cake - they give us focus and determination to keep going for as long as we can. Pets too are a calming influence and again give us that focus that's not on us or our condition. I know you'll keep going for another 10 year and more. Hope you had a wonderful celebration. Janet

[Elt79]

So happy for you! It’s uplifting to read such a positive outcome - here’s to continued advances for us on this journey! x

[Cmtd]

what an amazing and uplifting story so very happy for you and your family.

I am 4 years in with my lung cancer upper rh lobe removed - adjuvant chemotherapy-PDT Laser treatment and this year radiotherapy that has gave me radiation pneumonitis.... just out of 5 days hospital Still very weak. I can't have my biopsy to see if the radiotherapy has worked until the pneumonia has cleared. So from April until now I really don't know if I have a future or not. Its lonely and scary 😔

But your story is do inspiring - thank you

[sassassas in reply to Cmtd]

I hope you start feeling better soon Cmtd . Thinking of you ❤️

[Janey_H]

Enjoy that champagne!! Congratulations 🎉. I am now 8 years out from stage 3b so feel like I am a unicorn-in-waiting hopefully!! Definitely worth a celebration and enjoy every day xxx

[JanetteR57]

congratulations janeg4, here's to the next 10. Enjoy your champagne and celebrate alone or with friends and family- a great achievement. don't worry about tears - justifiable!

On 15/10 it was 12 years I turned up in A&E and a 'lesion' detected on a chest x-ray. 16/12/10 open thoracotomy to remove7cm tumour and 13/1/11 diagnosed as NSCLC - adenocarcinoma.

Like you, I'm thankful for every day - still working - travel for leisure and work, welcomed several grandchildren and great grandchildren, swam further than I ever imagined, entered the world of cancer research and made new friends and seen firsthand breakthroughs made and still being made in the knowledge and treatment of lung cancer as well as changes to every treatment type with most UK surgery now keyhole , new treatments and targeted lung health checks to detect cancer earlier when surgery is possible.

Thanks so much for sharing your progress to give hope to others - and for you, your family and dog, onwards and upwards... cheers!

[RachelA35]

Hi Jane, this is wonderful to read. Please let us know if you would ever like to share your story for our website: roycastle.org/category/pati...

Kind regards, Rachel @ RCLCF

[janeg4 in reply to RachelA35]

HI Rachel what would that entail

Jane

[RachelA35 in reply to janeg4]

I would send you some questions over email for you to answer in your own time. I'd then draft your story from the answers you provide. I'd share the draft with you and you would be able to make any changes. It would not be shared until you were happy with it. Once you were, we would publish to our website and share on our social channels.

No pressure. Some people want to share their experience, whilst others prefer not to.

Kind regards, Rachel

[janeg4 in reply to RachelA35]

Yes I'll be happy to do that Rachel

[janeg4 in reply to RachelA35]

My email address is Keepforgetting4@hotmail.

[RachelA35]

Thanks Jane. Is it hotmail.com or .co.uk

[janeg4 in reply to RachelA35]

yes

[janeg4 in reply to RachelA35]

Keepforgetting4@hotmail.

[Ianhick]

Thanks for sharing your story, what a great role model you are for those of us just starting on this long road. Hope you enjoyed your celebrations and spending quality time with your family.

I've had upper right lobectomy, with open thoracotamy, just over 2 weeks ago. Waiting for biopsy results, but given I had a 7.5cm T4 tumour I anticipate needing chemo. My family and friends have been very supportive and my wife has been a rock emotionally and practically. Support is invaluable during these difficult times. That was what got me through every stage, just thinking of family and our future plans. We had just had the happiness of our first great granddaughter a month before my operation.

Thank you again and here's to many more celebrations for us all 🥰🥰

[janeg4 in reply to Ianhick]

Thanks for your good wishes Ian ,if I can tell you something about Chemo its that it's doable

Regards 

Jane

[Ianhick]

Thanks Jane.

Had my follow up appointment for 17th November, so hopefully my biopsy results will be back by then. If it's chemo or immunotherapy or any other treatment that's recommended, then so be it, I know I will get through this and have many more years to enjoy life. Your story proves that.

Ian

[janeg4 in reply to Ianhick]

I totally believe in the power of a positive attitude and being your own advocate. Ian I'm sure you'll have many more years to enjoy ...

[sassassas]

Thank you for sharing this janeg4 ...you deserve that champagne, and here's to many more champagne-filled years ahead x