Angela, Canada

My diagnosis was quick and certainly unexpected.  After an active vacation away in the back country of Newfoundland in the Fall of 2022, neck pain led me to seek medical attention.  The imaging that followed showed a fractured vertebrae in my neck which turned out to be caused by a metastatic tumour originating from Neuroendocrine Cancer of the lung.  As shocking and upsetting as the news was that I was facing incurable stage four cancer and what that would mean in my life, I was well cared for, taken seriously and paid close attention to by my medical team (made up of a neurosurgeon, respirologist, thoracic surgeon, medical oncologist and radiation oncologist) who still consistently care for me today.  My disease has since progressed but I receive ongoing treatment in an attempt to manage it so that I can continue to live the outdoor and travel lifestyle that I adore, with a few modifications.

While my immediate medical needs are being managed and planned, I find great support in a community that I discovered through a Canadian NET organization that I now volunteer with for patient advocacy.  Within that community, I feel seen, I feel heard, and I feel energized to continue to encourage hope, more awareness, quick and accurate diagnosis and tailored treatments for other NET patients.

On this World Cancer Day, I encourage you to take a moment to think about anyone around you who may be affected by a cancer diagnosis and consider supporting your local cancer support agencies, whether it be in your city, your province, county or country.  Lend support - all encouragement that cancer patients and their families receive is more valuable than you can imagine...

Imagine comfort, imagine mental health support, imagine new therapies, imagine healing.

Thank you for taking a moment to read my story and I wish you peace and good health xo