Home / Resources / Patient Stories Terry Morey My name is Terry Morey and I am 73 years of age. I live in Cochrane, Alberta, which is a small community just outside of Calgary, Alberta. I have Stage IV non-small cell adenocarcinoma of the lungs. My journey through cancer land began in November 2013. I developed what I thought was a cold and phoned my doctor as colds always seemed to go to my chest. He prescribed the usual antibiotics and I began taking them on a Friday. By Sunday, I was not feeling any better. Although it was quite cold I thought perhaps a walk in the fresh air would perk me up. At the time we lived on an acreage just outside Cochrane and our back pasture has a small incline to it. You would not describe it as a hill. Normally, it was no problem for me to walk up the incline but that day, I struggled badly. I couldn’t catch my breath so I turned around and went back to the house. Of course, it was the weekend so couldn’t get a hold of my doctor. I probably should have gone to emergency but I just wanted to lie down. On Monday, I called the doctor’s office and got an appointment on Tuesday. My doctor listened to my chest but couldn’t hear a problem. However, to be safe, he sent me for an X-ray and said he’d call me if there was a problem. I was at work on Wednesday when he called and told me I had to go straight to emergency at the Foothills Hospital because there was so much fluid on my lower left lung it was in danger of collapse. I actually drove myself to emergency! Crazy! Once there the pulmonary doctor drained two litres of fluid from my left lung. I was given a CT scan and then sent home. I drove myself home! I even went back to work on Thursday and Friday. I felt fine. The next week, I met with the pulmonary doctors again and that’s when things got a little tough. They told me that I most likely had lung cancer and that I would need to see an oncologist to decide on treatment. Lung cancer!!!! Nope, couldn’t be. I didn’t smoke, I lead a fairly healthy lifestyle, so, nope, they’d got that wrong. For sure! However, the following week my wife, son, daughter and myself met with an oncologist at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. He confirmed the lung cancer diagnosis and when asked, told me I most likely had 6 to 18 months to live. My only option for treatment was chemotherapy, which I began in December 2013. I received a cocktail of cisplatin and gemcitabine every three weeks. I have to confess it was pretty tough. Although the anti nausea drugs did a great job, I felt pretty miserable for about 10 days out of every three-week cycle. I’d just start to feel better and I was back in the treatment chair. Thank God for the winter Olympics of 2014. I sat in my recliner chair placed in front of our fireplace and watched the games all day. I was able to take 5 out of 6 of the treatments. We had to stop as my white blood cells and my kidneys were becoming compromised by the chemotherapy. The treatment did reduce some of my tumours so it did work for a while but after about a 5-month relief from chemotherapy they started to grow again. My next treatment was another chemotherapy drug pemetrexed. This wasn’t as hard on my system as my first cocktail but in 2015 I had to stop treatment again. I was then offered a chance to enter a clinical trial for the immunotherapy drug Keytruda. In order to be accepted into the trial, a larger tumour sample was needed so I underwent a bronchoscopy. A meeting was scheduled with my oncologist to discuss the results of the tumour sample and that’s when I got the “good” news. My tumour sample showed I had the genetic mutation ALK+. This meant I would not be enrolling in the clinical trial and would begin taking the targeted therapy pill crizotinib. Compared to chemotherapy taking my two crizotinib pills a day was easy. The side effects were minimal. I developed swelling in my hands and feet and had definite digestive issues but otherwise I felt as though this pill had given me my life back. I was told most people only got 10 months out of crizotinib. I got four years, but unfortunately at the end of 2019 we could see tumour growth again. So in March 2020, I was put on another TKI called alectinib. So far, I tolerate this pill quite well, but it does cause extreme fatigue and so my life is a lot more limited now. I used to be able to walk much longer distances. These days a short wander around our community pond is all I can manage. Fairly normal everyday activities like shovelling a sidewalk in the morning means I have to rest in the afternoon. I like to dream of taking trips back to Europe and Britain which we’ve visited often but the reality is I would not have the energy for the tourist activities I know I would want to do. But....I can still dream and at least I’ve had 7 years to watch my grandchildren be born, grow up, graduate high school, enrol in pre-med studies, play hockey and take some wonderful beach holidays together. I have many, many memories to comfort me these days. And all of those precious grandchildren will have memories of their Poppa. One of my worst fears upon diagnosis was that my younger grandchildren would not remember me. During these 7 years of living with cancer I have been a fortunate man. My family, friends and church community have been so supportive of me. Honestly, I think that a caring support system has gone a long way to helping me cope with my diagnosis. My son’s eldest boy, Cade, held a fundraiser for Lung Cancer Research at the University of Calgary on his 9th birthday and raised $400.00. This has become the subject of a video made by the University of Calgary, Energize Campaign Project -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saODSHXWr6Y&t=29s. I am so proud of him. I am by nature, a pretty optimistic guy, and when I was diagnosed I vowed that whatever life I was given I would enjoy to the fullest. And despite a regimen of a CT scan every three months and a brain MRI every 6 months even during this pandemic, I do feel I live a full life. If I have any advice to a newly diagnosed lung cancer patient it would be “Never, never give up hope. There is always hope.” Resources Group Support One on One Support Patient Stories Awareness & Educational Infosheets Patient Guide The Hard Facts Poster Online Support and Resources COVID-19 COVID-19 Vaccine Survey and Press Release Hope In Isolation Lung Cancer Voices Podcast Lung Cancer Voices Podcast Listing Managing Breathing Relaxation for Shortness of Breath Faces of Lung Cancer Reports Questions to Ask Your Cancer Care Team For Health Care Providers What's New In: Webinars Videos Current News CANADA'S PREMIER LUNG CANCER FUNDRAISING & AWARENESS EVENT RETURNS JUNE 1st: GIVE A BREATH 5K TORONTO, May 29, 2024 /CNW/ - Lung cancer remains one of the most underfunded and overlooked cancers in Canada, despite being the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Lung Cancer Canada is calling on all Canadians to join the movement for change by participating in the Give a Breath 5K, the nation's premier fundraising and awareness event dedicated to supporting the lung cancer community. Founded by Tim Monds and his family in 2019, Give a Breath began as a local 5K walk/run in Edmonton and has since grown into a nationwide event. This year's event will take place on June 1st in Edmonton, Halifax, Toronto, Vancouver, and virtually, allowing participants from all over Canada to join in support. "Lung Cancer Canada is thrilled to be partnering with the Monds Family and our event hosts across the country for such an important event," said Shem Singh, Executive Director, Lung Cancer Canada. "With lung cancer impacting more Canadians than any other type of cancer, we need to shine a spotlight on the critical need for increased funding and awareness. Through Give a Breath, and with the support of donors, sponsors, and participants from across Canada, we're doing just that." Funds raised through the Give a Breath 5K support Lung Cancer Canada's Airways of Hope program, ensuring individuals facing lung cancer receive comprehensive care throughout their journey. This program offers healthcare navigation, peer and group support, and one-on-one support from a registered social worker. Additionally, Lung Cancer Canada is excited to announce that, thanks to Give a Breath and the Monds family, it will be expanding its research program with a new research award aimed at supporting the best and brightest minds in lung cancer research in Canada. This new annual award will launch in November 2024 as part of Lung Cancer Awareness Month. This year, there will be two awards of $25,000 each for projects focused on patients with advanced lung cancer, specifically exploring options after first-line therapy. Future announcements will coincide with Give a Breath in early June. Tim Monds, founder of Give a Breath, shared his perspective: "Our family started this event to raise awareness and funds for a cause that has deeply affected us. Seeing Give a Breath grow into a nationwide movement has been incredibly rewarding. We're grateful for the support and look forward to continuing our efforts to make a difference in the lives of those affected by lung cancer." To get involved and help build a movement towards greater awareness and support for lung cancer, visit www.giveabreath.ca. About Lung Cancer Canada: Lung Cancer Canada is a national charity dedicated to increasing awareness, providing patient and caregiver support, advocating for policy change, and funding research to improve outcomes for those affected by lung cancer. Through events like Give a Breath 5K, Lung Cancer Canada aims to rally the community and advocate for the attention and funding that lung cancer desperately needs. SOURCE Lung Cancer Canada For further information: For media inquiries or further information, please contact: Peter Glazier, Senior Advisor, Public Affairs, Communications & Strategy, T. 416.879.1953, E. [email protected] Read More LA CAMPAGNE VEDETTE DE COLLECTE DE FONDS ET DE SENSIBILISATION AU CANCER DU POUMON AU CANADA REVIENT LE 1er JUIN : GIVE A BREATH 5K TORONTO, le 29 mai 2024 /CNW/ - Le cancer du poumon demeure l'un des cancers les moins bien financés et les plus négligés au Canada, bien qu'il soit la principale cause de décès par cancer dans le pays. Cancer pulmonaire Canada invite tous les Canadiens à se joindre au mouvement pour le changement en prenant part au 5K Give a Breath, la campagne vedette de collecte de fonds et de sensibilisation visant à venir en aide à la communauté de personnes affectées par le cancer du poumon. Fondé par Tim Monds et sa famille en 2019, Give a Breath a commencé par une marche/course de 5 km à Edmonton avant de devenir un événement d'envergure nationale. Cette année, l'événement aura lieu le 1er juin à Edmonton, Halifax, Toronto, Vancouver et en virtuel, permettant aux participants de tout le Canada de se joindre au mouvement. « Cancer pulmonaire Canada est ravi de s'associer à la famille Monds et à nos hôtes de partout au pays pour organiser un événement aussi important, a déclaré Shem Singh, directeur général de Cancer pulmonaire Canada. Comme le cancer du poumon touche plus de Canadiens que tout autre type de cancer, nous devons mettre sur le devant de la scène le besoin crucial d'accroître le financement et la sensibilisation. C'est ce que nous faisons grâce à Give a Breath et à l'appui des donateurs, des commanditaires et des participants partout au Canada. » Les fonds amassés par l'entremise de Give a Breath appuient le programme Voies de l'espoir de Cancer pulmonaire Canada, qui vise à aider les personnes atteintes d'un cancer du poumon à recevoir des soins complets tout au long de leur parcours. Ce programme comprend le cheminement dans les soins de santé, le soutien par les pairs et les groupes d'entraide, ainsi que le soutien individuel assuré par un travailleur social agréé. De plus, Cancer pulmonaire Canada est heureux d'annoncer que, grâce à Give a Breath et à la famille Monds, il élargira son programme de recherche grâce à une nouvelle bourse de recherche s'adressant aux esprits les plus brillants de la recherche sur le cancer du poumon au Canada. Ce nouveau prix annuel sera lancé en novembre 2024 dans le cadre du Mois de sensibilisation au cancer du poumon. Cette année, deux prix de 25 000 $ chacun décerné à un projet axé sur les patients atteints d'un cancer du poumon avancé, étudiant plus particulièrement les options après un traitement de première intention. Les prochaines annonces coïncideront avec Give a Breath début juin. Tim Monds, fondateur de Give a Breath, a fait part de son point de vue : « Notre famille a lancé cet événement pour sensibiliser le public et amasser des fonds pour une cause qui nous tient profondément à cœur. Je suis incroyablement gratifié de voir Give a Breath devenir un mouvement national. Nous sommes reconnaissants pour tout le soutien reçu et apportons notre appui aux efforts visant à changer la donne dans la vie des personnes affectées par le cancer du poumon. » Pour participer et aider à créer un mouvement de sensibilisation et de soutien à l'égard du cancer du poumon, rendez-vous sur www.giveabreath.ca. À propos de Cancer pulmonaire Canada: Cancer pulmonaire Canada est un organisme de bienfaisance national qui se voue à la sensibilisation, au soutien des patients et des proches aidants, à la promotion de changements dans les politiques et au financement de la recherche afin d'améliorer les issues cliniques pour les personnes atteintes d'un cancer du poumon. Grâce à des événements, comme le 5K Give a Breath, Cancer pulmonaire Canada vise à rallier la population et à plaider en faveur de l'attention et du financement dont le cancer du poumon a désespérément besoin. SOURCE Lung Cancer Canada Renseignements: Source : Peter Glazier, Conseiller principal, Affaires publiques, communications et stratégie, Tél. : 416 879-1953, Courriel : [email protected] Read More Clinical Trials Questions To Ask Patient Stories Community Activities Donate Now Peer to Peer Network
Home / Resources / Patient Stories Terry Morey My name is Terry Morey and I am 73 years of age. I live in Cochrane, Alberta, which is a small community just outside of Calgary, Alberta. I have Stage IV non-small cell adenocarcinoma of the lungs. My journey through cancer land began in November 2013. I developed what I thought was a cold and phoned my doctor as colds always seemed to go to my chest. He prescribed the usual antibiotics and I began taking them on a Friday. By Sunday, I was not feeling any better. Although it was quite cold I thought perhaps a walk in the fresh air would perk me up. At the time we lived on an acreage just outside Cochrane and our back pasture has a small incline to it. You would not describe it as a hill. Normally, it was no problem for me to walk up the incline but that day, I struggled badly. I couldn’t catch my breath so I turned around and went back to the house. Of course, it was the weekend so couldn’t get a hold of my doctor. I probably should have gone to emergency but I just wanted to lie down. On Monday, I called the doctor’s office and got an appointment on Tuesday. My doctor listened to my chest but couldn’t hear a problem. However, to be safe, he sent me for an X-ray and said he’d call me if there was a problem. I was at work on Wednesday when he called and told me I had to go straight to emergency at the Foothills Hospital because there was so much fluid on my lower left lung it was in danger of collapse. I actually drove myself to emergency! Crazy! Once there the pulmonary doctor drained two litres of fluid from my left lung. I was given a CT scan and then sent home. I drove myself home! I even went back to work on Thursday and Friday. I felt fine. The next week, I met with the pulmonary doctors again and that’s when things got a little tough. They told me that I most likely had lung cancer and that I would need to see an oncologist to decide on treatment. Lung cancer!!!! Nope, couldn’t be. I didn’t smoke, I lead a fairly healthy lifestyle, so, nope, they’d got that wrong. For sure! However, the following week my wife, son, daughter and myself met with an oncologist at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. He confirmed the lung cancer diagnosis and when asked, told me I most likely had 6 to 18 months to live. My only option for treatment was chemotherapy, which I began in December 2013. I received a cocktail of cisplatin and gemcitabine every three weeks. I have to confess it was pretty tough. Although the anti nausea drugs did a great job, I felt pretty miserable for about 10 days out of every three-week cycle. I’d just start to feel better and I was back in the treatment chair. Thank God for the winter Olympics of 2014. I sat in my recliner chair placed in front of our fireplace and watched the games all day. I was able to take 5 out of 6 of the treatments. We had to stop as my white blood cells and my kidneys were becoming compromised by the chemotherapy. The treatment did reduce some of my tumours so it did work for a while but after about a 5-month relief from chemotherapy they started to grow again. My next treatment was another chemotherapy drug pemetrexed. This wasn’t as hard on my system as my first cocktail but in 2015 I had to stop treatment again. I was then offered a chance to enter a clinical trial for the immunotherapy drug Keytruda. In order to be accepted into the trial, a larger tumour sample was needed so I underwent a bronchoscopy. A meeting was scheduled with my oncologist to discuss the results of the tumour sample and that’s when I got the “good” news. My tumour sample showed I had the genetic mutation ALK+. This meant I would not be enrolling in the clinical trial and would begin taking the targeted therapy pill crizotinib. Compared to chemotherapy taking my two crizotinib pills a day was easy. The side effects were minimal. I developed swelling in my hands and feet and had definite digestive issues but otherwise I felt as though this pill had given me my life back. I was told most people only got 10 months out of crizotinib. I got four years, but unfortunately at the end of 2019 we could see tumour growth again. So in March 2020, I was put on another TKI called alectinib. So far, I tolerate this pill quite well, but it does cause extreme fatigue and so my life is a lot more limited now. I used to be able to walk much longer distances. These days a short wander around our community pond is all I can manage. Fairly normal everyday activities like shovelling a sidewalk in the morning means I have to rest in the afternoon. I like to dream of taking trips back to Europe and Britain which we’ve visited often but the reality is I would not have the energy for the tourist activities I know I would want to do. But....I can still dream and at least I’ve had 7 years to watch my grandchildren be born, grow up, graduate high school, enrol in pre-med studies, play hockey and take some wonderful beach holidays together. I have many, many memories to comfort me these days. And all of those precious grandchildren will have memories of their Poppa. One of my worst fears upon diagnosis was that my younger grandchildren would not remember me. During these 7 years of living with cancer I have been a fortunate man. My family, friends and church community have been so supportive of me. Honestly, I think that a caring support system has gone a long way to helping me cope with my diagnosis. My son’s eldest boy, Cade, held a fundraiser for Lung Cancer Research at the University of Calgary on his 9th birthday and raised $400.00. This has become the subject of a video made by the University of Calgary, Energize Campaign Project -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saODSHXWr6Y&t=29s. I am so proud of him. I am by nature, a pretty optimistic guy, and when I was diagnosed I vowed that whatever life I was given I would enjoy to the fullest. And despite a regimen of a CT scan every three months and a brain MRI every 6 months even during this pandemic, I do feel I live a full life. If I have any advice to a newly diagnosed lung cancer patient it would be “Never, never give up hope. There is always hope.” Resources Group Support One on One Support Patient Stories Awareness & Educational Infosheets Patient Guide The Hard Facts Poster Online Support and Resources COVID-19 COVID-19 Vaccine Survey and Press Release Hope In Isolation Lung Cancer Voices Podcast Lung Cancer Voices Podcast Listing Managing Breathing Relaxation for Shortness of Breath Faces of Lung Cancer Reports Questions to Ask Your Cancer Care Team For Health Care Providers What's New In: Webinars Videos Current News CANADA'S PREMIER LUNG CANCER FUNDRAISING & AWARENESS EVENT RETURNS JUNE 1st: GIVE A BREATH 5K TORONTO, May 29, 2024 /CNW/ - Lung cancer remains one of the most underfunded and overlooked cancers in Canada, despite being the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Lung Cancer Canada is calling on all Canadians to join the movement for change by participating in the Give a Breath 5K, the nation's premier fundraising and awareness event dedicated to supporting the lung cancer community. Founded by Tim Monds and his family in 2019, Give a Breath began as a local 5K walk/run in Edmonton and has since grown into a nationwide event. This year's event will take place on June 1st in Edmonton, Halifax, Toronto, Vancouver, and virtually, allowing participants from all over Canada to join in support. "Lung Cancer Canada is thrilled to be partnering with the Monds Family and our event hosts across the country for such an important event," said Shem Singh, Executive Director, Lung Cancer Canada. "With lung cancer impacting more Canadians than any other type of cancer, we need to shine a spotlight on the critical need for increased funding and awareness. Through Give a Breath, and with the support of donors, sponsors, and participants from across Canada, we're doing just that." Funds raised through the Give a Breath 5K support Lung Cancer Canada's Airways of Hope program, ensuring individuals facing lung cancer receive comprehensive care throughout their journey. This program offers healthcare navigation, peer and group support, and one-on-one support from a registered social worker. Additionally, Lung Cancer Canada is excited to announce that, thanks to Give a Breath and the Monds family, it will be expanding its research program with a new research award aimed at supporting the best and brightest minds in lung cancer research in Canada. This new annual award will launch in November 2024 as part of Lung Cancer Awareness Month. This year, there will be two awards of $25,000 each for projects focused on patients with advanced lung cancer, specifically exploring options after first-line therapy. Future announcements will coincide with Give a Breath in early June. Tim Monds, founder of Give a Breath, shared his perspective: "Our family started this event to raise awareness and funds for a cause that has deeply affected us. Seeing Give a Breath grow into a nationwide movement has been incredibly rewarding. We're grateful for the support and look forward to continuing our efforts to make a difference in the lives of those affected by lung cancer." To get involved and help build a movement towards greater awareness and support for lung cancer, visit www.giveabreath.ca. About Lung Cancer Canada: Lung Cancer Canada is a national charity dedicated to increasing awareness, providing patient and caregiver support, advocating for policy change, and funding research to improve outcomes for those affected by lung cancer. Through events like Give a Breath 5K, Lung Cancer Canada aims to rally the community and advocate for the attention and funding that lung cancer desperately needs. SOURCE Lung Cancer Canada For further information: For media inquiries or further information, please contact: Peter Glazier, Senior Advisor, Public Affairs, Communications & Strategy, T. 416.879.1953, E. [email protected] Read More LA CAMPAGNE VEDETTE DE COLLECTE DE FONDS ET DE SENSIBILISATION AU CANCER DU POUMON AU CANADA REVIENT LE 1er JUIN : GIVE A BREATH 5K TORONTO, le 29 mai 2024 /CNW/ - Le cancer du poumon demeure l'un des cancers les moins bien financés et les plus négligés au Canada, bien qu'il soit la principale cause de décès par cancer dans le pays. Cancer pulmonaire Canada invite tous les Canadiens à se joindre au mouvement pour le changement en prenant part au 5K Give a Breath, la campagne vedette de collecte de fonds et de sensibilisation visant à venir en aide à la communauté de personnes affectées par le cancer du poumon. Fondé par Tim Monds et sa famille en 2019, Give a Breath a commencé par une marche/course de 5 km à Edmonton avant de devenir un événement d'envergure nationale. Cette année, l'événement aura lieu le 1er juin à Edmonton, Halifax, Toronto, Vancouver et en virtuel, permettant aux participants de tout le Canada de se joindre au mouvement. « Cancer pulmonaire Canada est ravi de s'associer à la famille Monds et à nos hôtes de partout au pays pour organiser un événement aussi important, a déclaré Shem Singh, directeur général de Cancer pulmonaire Canada. Comme le cancer du poumon touche plus de Canadiens que tout autre type de cancer, nous devons mettre sur le devant de la scène le besoin crucial d'accroître le financement et la sensibilisation. C'est ce que nous faisons grâce à Give a Breath et à l'appui des donateurs, des commanditaires et des participants partout au Canada. » Les fonds amassés par l'entremise de Give a Breath appuient le programme Voies de l'espoir de Cancer pulmonaire Canada, qui vise à aider les personnes atteintes d'un cancer du poumon à recevoir des soins complets tout au long de leur parcours. Ce programme comprend le cheminement dans les soins de santé, le soutien par les pairs et les groupes d'entraide, ainsi que le soutien individuel assuré par un travailleur social agréé. De plus, Cancer pulmonaire Canada est heureux d'annoncer que, grâce à Give a Breath et à la famille Monds, il élargira son programme de recherche grâce à une nouvelle bourse de recherche s'adressant aux esprits les plus brillants de la recherche sur le cancer du poumon au Canada. Ce nouveau prix annuel sera lancé en novembre 2024 dans le cadre du Mois de sensibilisation au cancer du poumon. Cette année, deux prix de 25 000 $ chacun décerné à un projet axé sur les patients atteints d'un cancer du poumon avancé, étudiant plus particulièrement les options après un traitement de première intention. Les prochaines annonces coïncideront avec Give a Breath début juin. Tim Monds, fondateur de Give a Breath, a fait part de son point de vue : « Notre famille a lancé cet événement pour sensibiliser le public et amasser des fonds pour une cause qui nous tient profondément à cœur. Je suis incroyablement gratifié de voir Give a Breath devenir un mouvement national. Nous sommes reconnaissants pour tout le soutien reçu et apportons notre appui aux efforts visant à changer la donne dans la vie des personnes affectées par le cancer du poumon. » Pour participer et aider à créer un mouvement de sensibilisation et de soutien à l'égard du cancer du poumon, rendez-vous sur www.giveabreath.ca. À propos de Cancer pulmonaire Canada: Cancer pulmonaire Canada est un organisme de bienfaisance national qui se voue à la sensibilisation, au soutien des patients et des proches aidants, à la promotion de changements dans les politiques et au financement de la recherche afin d'améliorer les issues cliniques pour les personnes atteintes d'un cancer du poumon. Grâce à des événements, comme le 5K Give a Breath, Cancer pulmonaire Canada vise à rallier la population et à plaider en faveur de l'attention et du financement dont le cancer du poumon a désespérément besoin. SOURCE Lung Cancer Canada Renseignements: Source : Peter Glazier, Conseiller principal, Affaires publiques, communications et stratégie, Tél. : 416 879-1953, Courriel : [email protected] Read More Clinical Trials Questions To Ask Patient Stories Community Activities Donate Now Peer to Peer Network