About Us

Motivation Behind This Resource

Why the Focus on Lung Cancer

I was able to create this resource and publish it because, myself and the contributors are speaking from our personal experiences having lung and other solid tumor cancers. I can share this complement to cancer treatment related advice because it is anecdotal knowledge and not medical advice. The caveat is, what may have worked for us, may not work for you, but it's a starting point for you in mitigating the symptoms you are experiencing.

The tremendous expansion in cancer gene research and genomic identification over the last fifteen years has accelerated the understanding of cancer as well as improved its diagnostic testing. There has literally been a paradigm shift in diagnostics as the industry is increasingly focused on identifying cancer mutations within an individual patient, and more importantly, in creating new and more effective, focused treatments for patients with those mutations. That redirected focus in turn is driving treatment approach philosophies revising treatment definition decision trees toward individualized treatment regimens.

Lung cancer is one of the most complicated types of cancer as it has hundreds of variants. We have first hand experience in undergoing lung cancer treatment as well as trying to optimize our health while doing so. Thus, I and my fellow contributors can share first hand, anecdotal advice on which solutions worked for us when we experienced various side effects.

Why I Created This Reference

Some advice contained in this website may at times come across as intense. I am impassioned about this struggle. Much of what I learned, I learned the hard way. I had very little guidance as there was little medical understanding about my type of lung cancer at the time I was diagnosed in 2006. Lung cancer advocacy was in its infancy.

I am convinced that had I not transitioned my cancer care to UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center I would not be alive today. When I changed my Cancer Team Leader and medical facility we essentially bet on a "Hail Mary" treatment as I was so sick. I trusted my progressive Thoracic Oncologist and the treatment regimen approach he recommended held my cancer at bay for almost five years until they finally identified a treatment that targeted my specific and recently identified cancer mutation. I was literally riding the wave of lung cancer diagnostic and treatment innovation and also played a part as I participated in numerous clinical trials and diagnostic studies.

My Thoracic Oncologist focused on what was in my best interest in fighting my cancer; a personalized approach versus a more conservative approach of continuing to follow the current Standard of Care (SOC), which only offered an abysmal 17% five year survival.

My experience highlighted that a range of medical institution treatment philosophies vary from a risk adverse, rigorous adherence to SOC to one more receptive to innovative approaches being tested and presented in clinical trial outcomes publications. I was willing to risk a more nuanced approach identifying the optimal treatment regimen for my rare cancer diagnosis.

That is why transitioning to a teaching medical institution whose Oncologists were not afraid of taking calculated risks by incorporating more cutting edge treatment approaches saved my life. This belief is why I am encouraging cancer patients to be your own advocate in educating yourselves and doggedly pursuing the identification of your unique cancer's genetic signature. In addition, be willing to undergo treatment at specialized medical institutions that stay abreast of the rapidly changing innovations in this dynamic field of medicine.

Take care, be patient with yourself. Find something each day that brings you a bit of joy; being alive is a precious thing.

Best of Luck,
Elizabeth