Instagram Live: Conversations with Our Community Health Leaders
LungCancer.net recently hosted our first Instagram Live with our community health leaders Ivy Elkins, Lisa Moran, and Diane Spry to share their experiences living with lung cancer. Our conversation covered personal experiences with diagnosis, treatment, side effects, mental health, and finding support resources.
Watch the entire Instagram Live below!
Words of encouragement for the community
In closing, our community health leaders were asked to share one piece of encouragement or advice to the lung cancer community.
Lisa: "My advice to those newly diagnosed with lung cancer is to always look to the future. Don't miss out on life and events. Make the plans, take trips, and visit with friends and family. Even if it's small, like lunch with a friend, write it on the calendar and look forward to that day."
Ivy: "I’d like patients to know that new research and development are happening all the time in lung cancer. The targeted therapy I now take daily didn’t exist when I was first diagnosed and I never thought I could have surgery as a stage IV patient. Don’t pay attention to those 5-year statistics you may see online because they’re out of date! There could be a new treatment right around the corner that will make all the difference for you. It's definitely possible to live well while living with lung cancer."
Diane: "I think that it is important to be selfish in the beginning, right after being diagnosed. Once you get your feet grounded again you can work on helping others. Seeking support and then offering support is what has gotten me through being diagnosed with lung cancer."
Do you have additional questions for our community health leaders? What topics would you like to see discussed in our next Instagram Live? Let us know in the comments.
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