Lalaine Alfaro

I was told about my stage 4 lung cancer in December 2019. There have been many words I've heard and read describing my stage 4 diagnosis. Most of the time...

After years into my lung cancer treatment, my mission remains to include healthy habits that could improve the quality of my life. Taking charge of my health by choosing a...

I had the chance to sit at one of the annual Zoom meetings where an oncologist encouraged patients living with lung cancer to spread awareness and hope. He said patients...

Oncologists fight cancer for a living; it is a clear journey that they choose to be on. However, patients living with lung cancer must face this journey - whether they...

I am in awe for reaching this far living with lung cancer. Throughout my diagnosis and treatment, I choose to self-advocate for my health and well-being. There is a constant...

At the time of my diagnosis, my CT scans showed metastatic lung cancer in my brain. Further brain MRI confirmed a solitary lesion in the left basal ganglia which is...

Being a member of support groups makes me realize the importance of empathy. Most cancer patients associate empathy with highly improved health upshots. Moreover, since diagnosis, I have gained the...

Donations to charitable organizations have been one of the ways I give back to my community. After receiving my lung cancer diagnosis, I have added my support to fundraisers for...

Psychosocial support can be an overlooked slice of cancer care. It is not a lavish service but a much-needed fragment for better emotional and physical health of cancer patients and...

Time is a priceless gift especially when I am facing a stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis. Living with the disease is part of my daily routine. With the precious time...

I have marveled at the emerging discoveries of lung cancer drugs and clinical trials. Most of the drugs have controlled gene mutations and metastases. In addition, some clinical trials have...

As a person living with lung cancer, the treatment and medical appointments can be exhausting and time-consuming. There should be a balance between my life and dealing with my cancer...

What a great feeling having reached the second-year mark living with lung cancer. The huge impact definitely comes from the roles my healthcare providers have played. A great deal of...

I wish CT lung cancer screening was more inclusive for people who have no smoking history or risk factors. In other words, “CT lung screening for all.” Since my diagnosis...

As I am living with lung cancer, I have better days. Despite suffering from body reactions from my targeted therapy, life still must go on. There is no room to...

The battle against Covid is not over yet after seeing a number of variants of concern emerging. My family received our second dose by the end of July. The second...

I have controlled lung cancer. For more than a year since my 2019 diagnosis, I have realized there is a great need to unwind to increase healing from lung cancer...

How can you get ready to do something though being scared to death or most frightened? Despite fear you still have the ability to be useful. There are moments I...

From the day of diagnosis, I have been dealing with my own lung cancer changes. I cannot ignore that I am also grappling with my own finitude as well as...

What has prolonged my life after having advanced stage 4 non-small cell ALK-positive lung cancer? Do I only owe it to my cancer doctors? How about research? Much more to...