In 2022, our world was turned upside down. At 36, I was in the best shape of my life – young, healthy, a non-smoker, when a routine lung surgery to remove a concerning nodule led to a shocking diagnosis. I had a rare form of lung cancer. I am one of the fewer than 2% of lung cancer patients with RET-positive cancer, a mutation that requires targeted treatment. The FDA only approved this treatment in 2020. Months after my surgery, we were devastated to learn that the cancer had spread. Since May 2023, I have been on daily targeted therapy. This past November, I experienced disease progression and underwent targeted radiation in January. I continue to take daily targeted medication and face this journey one day at a time.
Lorena’s LifeList:
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A family trip to London for the holidays