I was given 5 months to live back in 2016 when diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer. I did a clinical trial with infusions of pembrolizumab and ramuciromab every 3 weeks  for 2 years. I am still here, good luck.

I was diagnosed with a secondary brain tumour, primary being lung cancer. Brain tumour was removed completely and I had pembrolizumab treatment every 6 weeks for 2 years. I am pleased to say that it worked so well for me with mild side effects of tiredness and dry skin. The tumours were reduced in size and have stayed the same ever since. My brain tumour has not grown back and here I am 5 and a half years later living a normal life as if the cancer never happened.  I set myself little goals and keep a positive mindset. I'm awaiting my most recent scan results and I fully expect things to be just as they have been each time but obviously you never know, so I do prepare myself for bad news just in case. I am one of the lucky ones. I lost my mum and aunt to lung cancer, my aunt was 53, my mum was 57 and passed away just 9 weeks after diagnosis. I turned 60 last July and put it all down to the immunotherapy.  Treatment has come such a long way since my mum and aunts days. 

Brilliant to read this post!   That is spectacular news. I too am convinced that immunotherapy is the way forward and hearing your feedback encourages me to believe that I’m correct. 
keep well and all good wishes. 

Thank you  

Very encouraging especially as it had already spread to your brain, so pleased for you. I have just clocked up 8 years since my diagnosis and so happy that especially in those days immunotherapy was my first port of call. I began responding within 6 weeks of my first infusion and can't think that it was anything other than immunotherapy that saved my life.

Very encouraging especially as it had already spread to your brain, so pleased for you. I have just clocked up 8 years since my diagnosis and so happy that especially in those days immunotherapy was my first port of call. I began responding within 6 weeks of my first infusion and can't think that it was anything other than immunotherapy that saved my life.

I think the brain tumour saved my life if I'm honest because without that diagnosis I would not have known about the lung cancer. I wasn't surprised by the lung cancer diagnosis as it runs in the women on my mothers side so I always thought that I would most likely get it. The brain tumour was a bit of a shock, I named it Larry the lodger as I was convinced once removed it wouldn't grow back. So far so good. I just think that I've been very lucky both with early diagnosis and treatment.  I've celebrated a few Christmases and welcomed 2 new grandchildren in this time and just seen my eldest grandaughter celebrate her 18th birthday. I feel really privileged and truly blessed . 

My only symptoms of lung cancer were breathlessness, a cough  and an extremely runny nose, not enough to persuade me to visit a doctor but my nephew insisted. (Also, those symptoms may have been the result of a chest infection.) By then it was stage 3, I could easily have put off the doctor until  stage 4. A cancer caught early enough can be cut out but it was already too late for me as it is for so many people. 'Larry the lodger' love it, uninvited and once evicted you are not having him back.

No one has ever mentioned stages to me but I assume I'm classed as stage 4 because it had already metastasised.  I've also not heard the word terminal used either, it was described as incurable but treatable. 

Larry is well out of the picture now and I don't want any more lodgers lol  

My understanding is stage 4 is as you said, the cancer metastasises and secondary tumours develop. I don't remember the terminology the doctor's used but I was told it was terminal and was given a probable 5 months, a simple estimate on how long does it take a tumour the size of mine to be terminal on average according to the data available at that time. 'Incurable but treatable' sounds a little anodyne to me but maybe a more positive way of putting it, as when the dentist mentions you may feel a little discomfort,

Reading these posts makes me want to hug you both. You are both walking miracles and it’s like getting the best Christmas present ever knowing that you are both survivors. Keep going. Onwards and upwards. It’s an absolute joy hearing that these miracle drugs are doing what they’ve set out to do and more. Yippee. Xx

I for one expect that you will soon be joining us.