About Janet:
- Lives in the Pacific Northwest
- Committed to being a lung cancer advocate
- Loves traveling, hiking, and the outdoors
Janet’s Journey With Cancer
- Diagnosed in 2011 with stage 3A adenocarcinoma with the ROS1 mutation, now stage 4
- Multiple rounds of chemotherapy
- Multiple radiation therapy treatments
- Targeted therapy for ROS1
- Over two years no evidence of disease (NED)
From Janet’s Perspective
“When I was first diagnosed, I didn't know how to handle it. I watched a lot of comedies—in some cases, really ridiculous comedies.
I needed to laugh, and the laughter was good for me. When I felt well enough, I went to science fiction conventions so I could talk about things that I enjoy with people who understand and catch my nerd humor.
Humor makes a huge difference. I think it makes my disease more accessible for other people. It can help put people at ease. It certainly helps me relax a little more, which is sometimes tough to do when undergoing treatment.
I’m learning to live for today. That doesn't mean that I live with abandon and trash anything that might possibly be good for my future. It just means that I try and find some joy in today and enjoy what it is that I'm able to do.
If all I can do on this particular day is to sit and look out the window at a tree, I can enjoy the amazing tree.
I find something that I can do for myself for that day and try and do something that contributes to the welfare of others. That helps me feel like I'm a part of everything.”
