I’ve heard this too much in the past week and I think I need to explain a little…😅

No. Very simply and unfortunately, no😳

I’m stage 4 cancer and there is no cure for that stage🥲

It’s one of the first conversations you have with the oncologists and surgeons once all the scans and tests are in and it’s not very pleasant🙄

Stage 4 means it has spread and once it has spread… well… You’re on what they call “prolonging life”. Which sounds horrid, but that’s basically it😐

Stage 4 cancer peeps aim for what we call NED (No Evidence of Disease) with a lot of tests and monitoring and you try to maintain it with long life treatment such as immunotherapy etc. Some people manage remission where there is still a percentage of cancer in the system and keep it in check with chemotherapy pills fo example. There are a lot of ways today. These ways are the reason why cancer is starting to turn into a chronic illness🙃

Of course I’m aiming for NED and planning to stay NED at every scan I ever get for the rest of my life, but once I’m NED I’ll be on other drugs to keep the cancer away until they stop working and then we try again💪

So, no, this won’t go away. I will not be cured. And it’s unfair. It’s unfair to my family, my friends, my life and of course, me😒

Every cancer and cancer patient is different and every response and treatment is different as well. I’m lucky because, while it spread, it didn’t spread to an organ, but to lymph nodes close to the lungs (mediastinum area). So it’s a “small spread” (sarcastic tone of voice)😌

However, I had a massive win last week and I’m grateful and ready to live my life to the fullest, but I also need to remain grounded, to protect myself and be prepared❤️

So, when I finally reach NED (because that’s the plan and I will😁), don’t call me “cured”. Call me “repaired”. The scars will be there and I’ll show them off proudly and I’ll probably decorate them too (tattoo parlors here I come!)✌️

I’ll give hope to those who will be starting or still fighting and show them that cancer isn’t a death sentence…

He is just an asshole😉 (emphasis on “just”)

Pic of my awesome colouring books that just came in the post🤭