Introducing Alix
Alix was diagnosed with stage IV ALK+ lung cancer in May 2021, aged 28.
"Things started with a cough in March 2021 that never went away. It wasn't COVID and I felt fine otherwise so didn't go to the GP."
During April, Alix noticed a swollen and sore lymph node and sought help from her doctors. A chest infection was initially diagnosed.
"In late May, my doctor invited me to be checked over and I was sent to hospital. I was so poorly I could barely breathe. I spent a week in hospital being treated for pneumonia; it was at this time that my cancer was diagnosed."
Alix tries to squeeze the most out of her good days. ALK-positive cancer is treated with targeted therapies - a class of drugs that precisely identify certain cancer cells. Alix had progression just five months into her first line targeted therapy, known as Alectinib, and moved on to another drug called Lorlatinib. She is currently feeling much better than when she was diagnosed last year.
"Cancer is a full-time job and it has changed my life completely. I've had to adapt in so many ways to life with cancer;- it was all so unexpected."
Alix's advice to newly diagnosed patients is to be hopeful because you can still live well. "Look after yourself. Take things one day at a time and prioritise you."
When asked how she feels about research into her disease Alix said, "Knowing research is ongoing helps to give me hope. We have such limited treatment options for ALK+ lung cancer. If we can hold on for a new treatment line, then another, that would ease so much worry.''
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