I joined the LUNG FORCE Walk because I was diagnosed in October 2015 with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.
I can't believe October 2020 was 5 years that I received the life changing diagnosis of lung cancer. I have come a long way since that day. Through chemo, radiation and chemo maintenance we kept it contained. As expected there were changes and we moved on to immunotherapy drugs which were not available to me when I was first diagnosed. Unfortunately this did not work so we needed to go back to another chemo treatment. Thanks to all the donations to Lung Force and the American Lung Association new options continue to become made possible.
And though the immunotherapy drugs did not work for me, there are others who they are working for and I am so grateful for that!!! I have accepted the fact that I will never be cancer free, but I remain positive, encouraged, and inspired to fight and to be an advocate. I am so blessed to have my friends and family on this journey with me.
I am proud to have been part of Advocacy Day 2020 as well as Advocacy Day 2021 and to have the opportunity to be a voice of all who are on this journey. My hope is that I have an impact and for my story to be remembered when it comes time for our legislators to push for increased funding for research and affordable health care coverage!
