It is unbelievable that 2019 has passed. This year is 4.5 years since I was diagnosed with lung cancer. I cannot help reflecting on my lung cancer advocacy in 2019. https://lungcancer.net/living/advocacy-reflections-2019/
My friend HaoPei (斐皓) is a Stage 4 lung cancer patient, 37 years old. This picture was taken by him when he travelled in rural China after his diagnosis.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Best wishes to your family.
It’s unbelievable 2019 is almost passed. This year is unusual for me. It was 4.5 years when I diagnosed with lung cancer. I am stable due to targeted therapy and an excellent oncology team.
Having lung cancer sucks. It keeps my family on the toe. But having lung cancer taught me a lot. I could not believe how much I learned and what I had become a different person. The first three years, I felt very “abnormal”, but I awakened since June 2018 that I decided to LIVE even only for a short time. I started to do advocacy. I joined the Canadian Cancer Society talking to newly diagnosed patients. I also joined FB, Twitter and WeChat to communicate with doctors, patients and caregivers to share the knowledge and to encourage each other both in China and the USA. I organised the Winnipeg Lung Cancer Support Group and subsequently, hosted a Winnipeg Lung Cancer Patient Summit. I published two to three articles per month for Health Union (a USA charitable organisation) to give lung cancer patients a voice. I attended international lung cancer research conferences and survivorship conference. Importantly I raised fund for Canadian and American lung cancer charities $2,770 (CND) and $21,441 (USA). I am a tireless advocate.
Besides advocacy, I travelled to five cities in 2019, such as Barcelona (Spain), Washington DC, Les Vegas, Vancouver and Toronto. I got several travel awards as an advocate for lung cancer conferences representing patients and survivors.
From the top to the right in Barcelona in September 2019 1) at the Patient Advocate Travel Award ceremony at IASLC/WCLC2019, 2) at World Conf. of Lung Cancer with other patients 3) with Dr Shaw (the best lung cancer oncologist) in Harvard U, 4) Picasso Museum 5) famous church Sagrada Familia, and 5) the Street food.
From the top to the right 1)-4) Winnipeg Lung Cancer Education Evening, and Winnepeg Lung Cancer Support Group (I was one of the organisers.) and 5) Winnipeg Lung Cancer 3KM Walk Marathon.
It’s the second year I rased fund for lung cancer societies. I anticipated that I would have some challenges this year because I decided to recruit a new list of donors to prevent “donation fatigue” from last year. The fundraising didn’t go well, but… https://lungcancer.net/living/awareness-fundraising/
My friend HaoPei (斐皓) is a Stage 4 lung cancer patient, 37 years old. This picture was taken by him when he travelled in rural China after his diagnosis.
Women in engineering, science and medicine are well known as difficult and demanding. The percentage of women in such areas are low. I looked back at my past engineering career and a mother. Well, it’s not optimistic. https://lungcancer.net/living/career-life-balance/
My friend HaoPei (斐皓) is a Stage 4 lung cancer patient, 37 years old. This picture was taken by him when he travelled in rural China after his diagnosis.
I never thought seriously about suffering before I was diagnosed Stage 4 lung cancer. Looking back, it’s laughable to say I knew what suffering was about. I was so naive. Have I suffered enough? Is there still more suffering in front of me? I don’t know. But I know for sure, I am resilient. https://lungcancer.net/living/staying-resilient/
My friend HaoPei (斐皓) is a Stage 4 lung cancer patient, 37 years old. This picture was taken by him when he traveled in rural China after his diagnosis.
I attended the IASLC World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) 2019 last month in Barcelona, Spain with a Patient Advocate Travel Award. Comparing with the conferences I attended before I fell a sick, IASLC WCLC2019 was very unique, productive and excited. https://lungcancer.net/living/attending-iaslc-wclc-2019/
My friend HaoPei (斐皓) is a Stage 4 lung cancer patient, 37 years old. This picture was taken by him when he traveled in rural China after his diagnosis.
“The Farewell” is an award-winning movie made by a Chinese-American filmmaker in Hollywood. It’s about a Chinese grandma who had stage 4 lung cancer and her whole family returning to China from abroad to say goodbye. The catch was that the entire family knew their grandma would die soon except they kept this information from her. The story took place when the family, especially the 2 sons and grandchildren in the US and Japan, struggled between the Chinese culture and the American culture. This movie maked me laugh and cry at the same time. Christine gave a review of the moive in connection with her life. https://lungcancer.net/living/cultural-differences-the-farewell/
My friend HaoPei (斐皓) is a Stage 4 lung cancer patient, 37 years old. This picture was taken by him when he traveled in rural China after his diagnosis. I’m grateful for HaoPei’s generosity.
