A persistent cough, unexplained weight-loss, and a lump in his neck led to James’ lung cancer diagnosis

Staying objective and reflecting on my experience has really helped me cope

I'm James, a 45 year old father of three young boys who keep me active. I enjoy trying to keep up with them; taking time to go to the gym; and being inspired by my wife to just stay focused and "breath”.

I was diagnosed with stage 4 ALK+ lung cancer in 2024 after experiencing a persistent cough, unexplained weight-loss and a lump in my neck

The effort I put into meditation, breath work and journaling prior to my diagnosis really helped me cope with what came after. I'm back working full time and realise that self-care is about giving myself time between treatment and work to internalise what is happening and be grateful for how fortunate I am.

"Resilience is a powerful tool made stronger through practice." - James