Hi I’m Julia and was diagnosed with stage 4 NSCLC back in 2016 after a bout of chest infections and a stay in ICU with pneumonia. They knew something was wrong but took several tests to confirm as I don’t have an actual tumour, but cancer in the individual cells of the lungs. 

I was accepted on the checkmate trial receiving chemotherapy and there was an immediate improvement in the breathing and other symptoms also started to dwindle. I was on the trial for two years before deciding to come off chemo due to kidney damage. I was then off treatment for a year before having to start again. It was confirmed that I carried the ROS1 mutation and have been on targeted therapy crizotinib ever since. 

Apart from having cancer, my life has mainly returned to normal, my family give me the determination and treat me as they always have which means so much to me. 

I went to the first ever Everybreath meeting and didn’t realise I needed it in my life until that moment. Cancer can be a lonely place and having someone to discuss it with who understands is so vital and I’ve seen it help so many people adjust to their diagnosis with the guidance of others in the same situation. It definitely is my happy place, and that’s what the meetings are about, optimism and friendship. It’s a very uplifting atmosphere.