We often use metaphors when discussing lung cancer, for example, fighting with lung cancer, battling or beating lung cancer, etc. Some terms uplift the patient’s spirit, at the same time, some patients feel depressed. Here are my experiences with some metaphors, some even changed as my advocacy. https://lungcancer.net/living/cancer-metaphors
Painting from internet by the Rossian romantic painter Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky, the greatest marine arts.
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2023 was from April 15 to 19 in Orlando, Florida. It is the focal point of the cancer research community, where scientists, clinicians, other healthcare professionals, survivors, patients, and advocates gather to share the latest advances in cancer science and medicine. It was the 2nd year that I was in the AACR Scientist↔Survivor Program and for the 1st time, I attended the program in person. Here I’ll record my experience.
Meeting with the patient advocates at AACR Scientist↔Survivor Program (Every advocate has been “big” and “famous” in their own area of advocacy. Together, we are a force to be recognized!)
Working with the team project (We are very close after 4 days of working together.)
Poster session (I met some scientists and many advocates. The poster I presented about “scanxiety” was well received.)
Sightseeing (I didn’t go far, only stayed close to the Orlando Convention Centre and hotel. Every place is huge.)
Dinners in Orlando, Florida (I’m a foody, and every place we go, my husband and I have to try different types of food.)
I often heard lung cancer patients complaining that their non-cancer friends stopped talking to them after their diagnosis or finished treatment. After having lung cancer for almost eight years, one thing is for sure it’s not easy to talk to lung cancer patients. I want to tell my cancer friends to tough up; new friends are just in the corner. For non-cancer friends, it’s the time to know about cancer because, according to the American Cancer Society, one out of two adults in America struggles with cancer in their adult life, while in Canada, according to the Canadian Cancer Society, two out of five adults suffer about cancer. https://lungcancer.net/living/talk-to-cancer-patients
Anonymous picture from the website
In 2022, I travelled six times to various cities in Canada, the USA, and Europe. The more travel I do, the more beauty I see, and the more GRATEFUL I am. https://lungcancer.net/living/traveling-with-cancer
Picture by lungcancer.net
I’ve shared my memorial of the passed lung cancer friends, Gina and Linnea in Part 1. This is the second part of the memory of my friend Trish. See https://lungcancer.net/living/memory-friend-part-2
Breathtaking styling of trees of Masahiko Kimura, a widely recognized Bonsai master.
I’m writing about three of my dearest friend whose lives have been taken too soon by lung cancer. The only thing I can do is keep advocating until we can conquer (lung) cancer. Please see https://lungcancer.net/living/the-memory-part-1
Anonymous picture from the website
We took a trip to San Diego and just got back on Christmas. We went from the extremely cold weather (-20-30 degrees C) of my hometown to the summer-like in San Diego (15 degrees C). We visited our younger son who is doing his P.hD. in San Diego, and our daughter also came to visit her brother. We had a wonderful vacation.
The more travel I do, the more beauty I see, and the more GRATEFUL I am.
I used to be quite confident about my mental health since I was young and I could self-adjust mentally if anything went wrong, at least I thought. Also, I’m aware of the stigma toward mental health issues. Therefor, I stayed away from psychology and psycho-oncology. As I was diagnosed with lung cancer for more than seven years, I was not sure anymore. Maybe I need a psychologist. This is my journey to understand psycho-oncology. https://lungcancer.net/living/psycho-oncology
This is one of the scenes from my alma mater. Pictured by Yin Bai (印白）
I attended a formal Tea Party for the first time yesterday, not to mention it’s Manitoban’s largest Tea Party. It’s called “Guardian Angel Benefit for Women Cancer.” Here are some Tea Party organizers’ words about the event.
“For more than three decades, the Guardian Angels have been raised funds to support advancements in treatment and patient care…”
“The theme this year is to celebrate hope and wellness.”
“All funds raised through today’s event support research into life-altering cancers, clinical trials, and the best possible physical and emotional care for women with cancer in our province.”
“Nothing brings people from all walks of life together like tea. Tea provides comfort.”
Here are the photos.
We spent most of the time in Montreal with our daughter. In Montreal, I visited the Montreal Museum of Fine Art and the labs at the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer at the University of Montreal. Last but the least, we tried different cuisines.
One thing that impressed me is that Montreal people like to go to museums. This time was not exceptional, and I’ve not seen so many people in the museum. The highlight of this visit is Seeing Loud: Basquiat and Music, which is “the first large-scale multidisciplinary exhibition devoted to the role of music in the work of one of the most innovative artists of the second half of the 20th century”. The artist is Jean-Michel Basquiat from New York, but his work didn’t speak to me. Classical art, impressionism and early modern art echo better with me.
I’m involved in a Canadian Cancer Society Breakthrough Grant Application by the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer at the University of Montreal. It’s a large research project which has basic research and clinical research. I’m honoured to be one of the grant applicants. Here are pictures of visiting two labs.
As usual, we explored different cuisines, tried two restaurants’ Iranian food and Greek food and, interestingly, tried several Jewish foods.
Prevailing with ROS1+ Lung Cancer 