I had x-rays of my lungs, CT scans of my chest, abdomen and pelvis, a bone scan, a brain scan, and a PET scan to work out exactly what was going on.

I was completely terrified by all the doctors and specialists and tests. When a thoracic specialist eventually diagnosed me I was referred to an oncologist and a radiologist.

My first thoughts were ‘Oh my god. I have cancer. I don’t want to die’, and was consumed for a fair while with ‘What can I do to be cured?’

I had an initial two months of chemotherapy, then 6 weeks of daily sessions of radiation and chemotherapy, and was told that the tumor was shrinking (i.e. responding to treatment).

A scan showed what looked like just remaining scar tissue and a small amount of tumor, so the following year an attempt at surgery was made to remove what remained. Unfortunately the surgery was unsuccessful, and I was told the cancer had spread to my pleura (lining of my lungs) and this cancer was no longer curable.

After two months of recovery, following the surgery, I underwent chemotherapy. I was so depleted by it that I needed blood transfusions and was hospitalised.

Somewhere along the line though, I realised that ongoing treatment was just going to be a part of my life. I embraced it, and am now just dealing with the ups and downs. It’s been more about living peacefully.

I feel very lucky and have an excellent quality of life, considering my disease. I do almost everything I used to, except running. I credit my continued survival to:

• My incredible oncologist;
• My amazingly supportive and loving husband;
• Continuing to make life plans;
• Focusing on work/life balance;
• Determination, and;
• Enjoying life, family, food, and friends

I talk openly with people about having lung cancer, although there is a huge stigma about having the disease. I would like there to be greater awareness of lung cancer, and a better understanding that it touches non-smokers’ lives too.

I want others who have recently been diagnosed to know that there is hope and life after a cancer diagnosis.

I want people to know that more needs to be done for people with lung cancer and their families.

In particular, we need more fundraising dollars granted to lung cancer support and research!

I’ll be updating this website regularly – and you can also send me a message of support before we leave or while we’re away click here

Importantly, you can also send a donation to The Australian Lung Foundation to help us create lung cancer patient support groups throughout Australia click here