The one thing ALK+ cancer patients have in common is that none of us ever expected this diagnosis. There are no known risk factors for our disease and each story is unique and comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and places. We represent a wide range of people across all ages, from children, young adults to retirees. We also come from a wide range of countries and backgrounds. Often, we have none of the typical risk factors that you would expect, especially those of us with ALK+ lung cancer, as most of us are never or non-smokers and much younger.
We may have been thrown together because of ALK+ cancer, but we are now working together to find better treatments and turn ALK+ cancer into a chronic condition.
We hope that by reading our stories and watching our interviews, you can join us in our mission to increase research into ALK+ cancer so we can not only understand how to prevent this disease, but how we can increase life expectancy for our ALK+ cancer community.
Introducing Mike.
‘‘No matter how rubbish I felt I'd make sure I always did the school run. I also walked and walked and walked. My wife and I walked for miles every day. I think it was cathartic for both of us just walking and talking, hoping for a future but not daring to believe one would be possible given the diagnosis I'd received.’’ read the full story here
Alix has ALK+ non-small-cell-lung cancer and was diagnosed when a persistent cough didn't go away.
Becky has ALK+ non-small-cell-lung cancer and was diagnosed after 8 months of doctors appointments.
Lorna was diagnosed with ALK+ stage IV bowel cancer in 2018 and is on her 7th line of treatment.
Vicky has ALK+ non-small-cell-lung cancer, it took her 18 months to finally get diagnosed.
Diagnosed in 2017, Nadine was diagnosed ALK+ lung cancer just 10 days after giving birth to her twin boys.
Jamie was diagnosed with Stage IV ALK+ lung cancer in 2019 after having a seizure out of the blue.
Joanna was diagnosed in July 2019, just 6 months after the birth of her first daughter.
Kira was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma in 2014 at age 11, she’s been through a lot including eight relapses.
Aud and Ronnie have scoured the earth for expert care for their daughter Kira, who has Relapsing ALK-positive Neuroblastoma.
Amy was diagnosed in April 2020, with stage IV ALK+ lung cancer at just 20 years old.
Hayley, 38 was diagnosed November 2021 with ALK+ lung cancer.
Clair was diagnosed in March 2022, with stage IV ALK+ lung cancer after experiencing severe back pain.
Winnie was diagnosed with ALK+ non-small-cell-lung cancer in June 2022.
Harriet was diagnosed with ALK+ non-small-cell-lung cancer in 2022 after a routine chest x-ray.
Diagnised with ALK+ non-small cell lung cancer when a crackling sound in his chest would not go away.
Mira was diagnosed with stage IV Neuroblastoma at just two months old.
Always fit and healthy, Alex's general malaise turned out to be an ALK-positive form of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) –
Pui, living in France and originally from Thailand. Her journey started in December 2017. Just 34 years old. and diagnosed with ALK+ NCSLC
Have a story to tell?
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