My journey began when I moved to Australia in February 2019 as an international student from Colombia. I was excited about the opportunities ahead and ready to embrace my new life.
In December 2019, however, my world was turned upside down when I was diagnosed with terminal stage 4 ROS1 Lung Cancer. As a healthy 35-year-old non-smoker, I couldn't believe what was happening to me. But even in the face of this unexpected challenge, I was determined to remain positive and focus on the good things in my life.
My treatment journey began with Crizotinib, and I was thrilled to see very positive results. The main tumour disappeared, and everything looked promising. Based on these outcomes, my doctor decided to transition me to Entrectinib. This decision was made to provide additional coverage for my brain. To my immense relief, the treatment continued to show positive results after switching to Entrectinib. I am incredibly grateful for the expertise of my medical team, whose knowledge and commitment have played a significant role in my journey.
Throughout this difficult period, I've maintained a positive attitude. I've learned to cherish the small victories and to live in the present moment, finding joy in everyday activities.
I'm so grateful to be able to continue my studies, work, and live a relatively normal life. In fact, I've even started making plans for the future. I've realized that I'm capable of so much more than I ever imagined, and this experience has taught me the true value of resilience.
The support from my friends, family, and the amazing ROS1 community has been instrumental in helping me face this challenge with courage and grace. They've shown me that I'm never alone in this!
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