A memory from six years ago today popped up on Facebook and inspired me to write this morning. I don’t often post about my cancer on Facebook, except during LCAM (that’s Lung Cancer Awareness Month for those of you thankfully removed from the lung cancer community) but I did today. It made me realize it’s been a while since I posted an update here. So by way of an update, a repost from Facebook:
This popped up in my memories this morning.
I remember how terrified I was six years ago when I was first handed my shocking diagnosis of stage IV lung cancer.
I knew then I’d be extremely lucky to make it five years.
Here I am, six years later. That medication that Mimi mentioned in her post with an average usage length of 24 months only worked for 19 months for me.
But here I am, six years later! My continued survival is due in a large part to research. I gained another 17 months on a different drug as part of a research trial. That drug is anticipated to be approved by the FDA to treat ROS1+ cancer in the next few months.
And here I am, six years later… participating in _another_ research trial. After a year and a half on traditional chemo, it feels SO GOOD to be back on a regular rhythm of life! I have some leg swelling as a side effect, but I know how to manage that and I’ll take it in exchange for some more months. I’m hoping this drug will be more durable than the last two! 🤞🏻
The ROS1ders funded two $75,000 seed grants focused on ROS1+ cancer this year. We hope to fund THREE more grants in 2024. I hope these grants and their research will lead to me sitting here in 2033 writing about how much I hoped for more more treatments and even a cure TEN years ago. 🙂
If you’ve read this far, and you’re moved to help support ROS1 research, you can donate to the cause here:
https://ros1ders-inc.networkforgood.com/projects/113868-amie-parker-s-ros1-research-fundraiser
I hope to be back in 2033 starting my update with: Here I am, sixteen years later!
