The moment you hear those words ‘You have lung cancer’, everything changes. You are plunged into a new world of complete uncertainty. Dinner with friends and trips to the cinema are immediately replaced with hospital appointments and seemingly endless tests. You hear words and phrases you have never heard before. It is devastating, overwhelming and terrifying.
Jo Odams gets it. She was diagnosed with stage 4 lung adenocarcinoma, a month shy of turning 52. The diagnosis floored Jo and her family. As a regular gym goer and someone who had never smoked, the thought of getting lung cancer had never crossed Jo’s mind.
Now five months on, Jo has started to find ways to cope with her diagnosis and she shares her experience to help others take back control.
“As a geography teacher, I describe my lung cancer diagnosis as a hurricane.
“At the beginning, it caused utter havoc and devastation. I was sent for genomic testing, but this came back negative, so I started on a combination treatment of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Unfortunately, I had no response to this treatment.
“I’ve since started on a different chemotherapy with a targeted therapy and am currently in the eye of the storm, waiting to see what the second wave will bring. Hopefully, it will be less destructive.
Control the controllables
“The biggest battle so far has definitely been emotional. There is so much uncertainty and I have been told that if this treatment doesn’t work then we’re looking at clinical trials.
“It’s hard to stop your brain going to the worst-case scenario. I haven’t really had any side effects of the treatment. I’ve had slight hair loss and thinning but it’s not been too bad. You’d think that would be a good thing but in my head it’s a sign that the treatment’s not working.
“But I’m working really hard to not focus on that or fixate on things that are out of my control. I can’t predict what is going to happen. I can’t control how my cancer is going to respond to treatment, but I can control the here and now. That’s why I’m currently decorating my lounge!
Pendulum of emotions
“Since my diagnosis, I have had some specialised counselling, and it has helped. In the sessions, we’ve talked about the pendulum of emotions. One side of the swing is where you’re super happy and the opposite side is grief and fear. The key is to bring it back to the middle ground.
We’ve tried visualisation, as well as finding ways to stay grounded and in the moment. I sometimes hold a pebble and focus just on how it feels in my hand. Or I’ll intently listen to the sounds going on around me and concentrate on them.
“My counsellor has, at times, talked me down from that ledge. It’s also been really good to have the space to blurt out your emotions.
“I would describe myself as quite a logical and pragmatic person and I don’t dwell on the negatives. But with something like lung cancer that can be easier said than done, so it helps to have that safe space to get things out when it all inevitably gets too much.
Be your own advocate
“Whilst so much about my diagnosis is out of my control, I think it’s important to find a good balance between letting it happen and taking back control where you can.
There are still things I can do to maintain control over the situation. I can make sure I know what my treatment options are. I can make sure I’m asking the right questions. I can research other treatments, read other people’s experiences and speak to experts, like Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.
“When you’re diagnosed with lung cancer, you are in a very alien situation and because of that, you might not know what to ask. Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation will know though and that’s what its Ask the Nurse helpline is there for.
Shared experiences
“You don’t have to face lung cancer alone and having someone to lean on is so important. I am fortunate to have a wonderful family and friends. I know they’re there if I need anything. Sometimes though, you need someone objective.
“It’s also comforting to know there are other people out there like you. When I was first diagnosed, I felt like a freak of nature!
“But slowly, the more I read, the more people I found who were like me and had lung cancer. Their stories were inspiring and gave me something to hang my hope on. And that’s ultimately the key to coping with lung cancer.”