{"id":3889,"date":"2024-11-05T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-05T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/happylungsproject.org\/?p=3889"},"modified":"2026-03-02T10:53:05","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T15:53:05","slug":"a-letter-from-ilana-to-a-recently-diagnosed-ret-patient","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/happylungsproject.org\/a-letter-from-ilana-to-a-recently-diagnosed-ret-patient\/","title":{"rendered":"A Letter from Ilana to a Recently Diagnosed RET Patient"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”padding-3-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color=”#f68d28″ background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” font_color=”#ffffff” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”10px” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

Happy Lungs board member Ilana Stromberg penned this letter to anyone newly diagnosed with RET-positive lung cancer to share the resources that were helpful during her own cancer journey. <\/span>Note: The Happy Lungs Project does not endorse and receives no support, financial or otherwise, from these products or services.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

\"Ilana<\/p>\n

Hi Friend –<\/p>\n

I am sorry you are faced with this diagnosis! I know first-hand, it stinks! But, I hope the following information brings a little hope or help to you.<\/p>\n

First off, remember that your journey is yours alone, so try not to take on anyone else\u2019s story. I try really to avoid and ignore statistics. When I was diagnosed, my youngest daughter was only seven years old, and I was told I had a 25% chance of being alive in five years…and here I am today, very alive and very healthy and it\u2019s been over five years! Miracles happen!<\/p>\n

Every cancer case is different based on many known and unknown factors about your physical and mental make-up. People surprise the doctors all the time! Today, you are alive, and once you wrap your head around all of this, you will fight it and hopefully even find some “good\u201d in ways you probably can\u2019t even imagine right now. I definitely appreciate the moments, the people, and the experiences in my life in a way that I never did before. Of course, I also struggle at times with feeling sad, angry, alone and reactive, so give yourself grace. This is hard!<\/p>\n

But there is hope, and there are things you can do to help yourself. Below is a list of things that have given me hope, and some sense of control, as I\u2019ve navigated my own cancer journey. I hope they do the same for you.<\/p>\n

Also, always check with your insurance; they sometimes surprise me by covering wigs and some integrative treatments (sometimes with a prescription that you can ask for from your oncologist). Also, if you are going to a cancer center, check to see if they have an integrative care center that offers many of the support services below.<\/p>\n

Feel free to contact me at info@happylungsproject.org<\/u><\/a>. I’m happy to help.<\/p>\n

With love and light,<\/p>\n

Ilana[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][toggles style=”minimal_shadow” accordion=”true” accordion_starting_functionality=”closed” border_radius=”none”][toggle color=”Accent-Color” heading_tag=”h3″ heading_tag_functionality=”default” title=”Books”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

Anticancer Living: Transform your life and health with the Mix of Sixby Lorenzo Cohen, PhD and Alison Jeffries<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

Radical Remission: Surviving Cancer Against All Odds\u00a0by Kelley A. Turner, PhD<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

Radical Hope 10 Key Healing Factors from Exceptional Survivors of Cancer & Other Diseases\u00a0by Kelley A. Turner with Tracy White<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

More Beautiful Than Before: How Suffering Transforms Us\u00a0by Steve Leder<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

There\u2019s No Place Like HOPE: A Guide to Beating Cancer in Mind-Sized Bites\u00a0by Vickie Girard<\/u><\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/toggle][toggle color=”Accent-Color” heading_tag=”h3″ heading_tag_functionality=”default” title=”Movies”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

The Connection: Mind Your Body<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Connection-Jon-Kabat-Zinn-PhD\/dp\/B017LZWLI0<\/u><\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/toggle][toggle color=”Accent-Color” heading_tag=”h3″ heading_tag_functionality=”default” title=”Meditation Apps”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

Insight Timer<\/u><\/a>
\nHeadspace<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/toggle][toggle color=”Accent-Color” heading_tag=”h3″ heading_tag_functionality=”default” title=”Wig Makers”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

Piny Beverly Hills<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/toggle][toggle color=”Accent-Color” heading_tag=”h3″ heading_tag_functionality=”default” title=”Exercise”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

Mirror (Fitness Mirror)<\/a><\/span>
\nSunlighten (Infra-Red Sauna)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/toggle][toggle color=”Accent-Color” heading_tag=”h3″ heading_tag_functionality=”default” title=”Medical”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

Cell Free DNA Testing\/Liquid Biopsy<\/strong>
\nNatera<\/u><\/a>, 855.653.0962
\nInfo on\u00a0Liquid biopsy vs. Signatera ctDNA cancer monitoring test<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/toggle][toggle color=”Accent-Color” heading_tag=”h3″ heading_tag_functionality=”default” title=”Practitioners”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

Integrative Medicine, MDAnderson<\/p>\n

Dr. Lui<\/u><\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/toggle][toggle color=”Accent-Color” heading_tag=”h3″ heading_tag_functionality=”default” title=”Massage”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

Hillary Bergman, Licensed Massage Therapist<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/toggle][toggle color=”Accent-Color” heading_tag=”h3″ heading_tag_functionality=”default” title=”Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Functional Medicine”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

Seeds of Wellness, Rosa N. Schnyer, DAOM, IFMCP, <\/a>L.Ac<\/a>.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Enhance wellbeing and relieve pain with oncology acupuncture<\/a><\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/toggle][toggle color=”Accent-Color” heading_tag=”h3″ heading_tag_functionality=”default” title=”Hypnotherapy”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

Katya Lovejoy<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/toggle][toggle color=”Accent-Color” heading_tag=”h3″ heading_tag_functionality=”default” title=”Nutrition and Meal Planning”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

Krystle Zuniga, PhD, Rd, Ld<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.cancerrehabaustin.com\/dr-krystle-zuniga<\/span><\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/toggle][toggle color=”Accent-Color” heading_tag=”h3″ heading_tag_functionality=”default” title=”Yoga, Meditation and Essential Oils”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

Lauren Margolies<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/toggle][toggle color=”Accent-Color” heading_tag=”h3″ heading_tag_functionality=”default” title=”Pilates”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

Jenny Powell<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/toggle][toggle color=”Accent-Color” heading_tag=”h3″ heading_tag_functionality=”default” title=”Clean Products”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

Clean products that really work!<\/p>\n

Do Cancer Wellness Kits<\/u><\/a> – they also provide funding for integrative care – well worth checking out!<\/p>\n

Think Dirty<\/a><\/span>\u00a0\u2013 rates products and ingredients (healthy to unhealthy) in beauty, personal care and cleaning products<\/p>\n

Environmental Working Group<\/a><\/span>\u00a0\u2013 research and analysis to help you make healthy purchasing decisions<\/p>\n

Beauty Counter<\/a><\/span>\u00a0\u2013 clean skincare and beauty products<\/p>\n

100% Pure<\/a><\/span>\u00a0\u2013 natural and organic beauty products<\/p>\n

Rocky Mountain Soap Company<\/a><\/span>\u00a0\u2013 100% handmade and natural soap and body products<\/p>\n

Hair Story<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 clean hair products<\/p>\n

Red Juice Cleaner<\/a><\/span>\u00a0\u2013 eco-friendly, non-toxic all purpose cleaner<\/p>\n

Dropps<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 clean laundry and dishwasher products<\/p>\n

Hive Brands<\/a><\/span>\u00a0\u2013 clean and sustainable personal, household and grocery products<\/p>\n

Life\u2019s Abundance<\/a><\/span>\u00a0\u2013 Healthy beauty, body and cleaning supplies for humans, as well as food and care products for dogs and cats[\/vc_column_text][\/toggle][toggle color=”Accent-Color” heading_tag=”h3″ heading_tag_functionality=”default” title=”Music”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

Tim McGraw – Live Like You Were Dying<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/toggle][toggle color=”Accent-Color” heading_tag=”h3″ heading_tag_functionality=”default” title=”Blog post I wrote shortly after diagnosis (still holds true)”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]The Biopsy is positive for Non-Small Cell Adenocarcinoma<\/a><\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/toggle][toggle color=”Accent-Color” heading_tag=”h3″ heading_tag_functionality=”default” title=”Other articles worth checking out”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]The Happy Lungs Project Blog<\/a><\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/toggle][\/toggles][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\"alt[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

I think about my kids and my husband a lot when I say this. Just trying to trust the universe that no matter what happens, all shall be well.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][toggles style=”minimal_shadow” accordion=”true” accordion_starting_functionality=”closed” border_radius=”none”][toggle color=”Accent-Color” heading_tag=”h3″ heading_tag_functionality=”default” title=”Mantras”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]Here are some mantras I say over and over again when I wake up at night and can\u2019t sleep, or in a scan.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

I am happy, I am healthy. I am safe.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Cancer cannot live or grow in my brain or my body.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

I say the above over and over again while imaging a light going all through my brain and body – and as if healing or scanning my whole body.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

I am living with cancer, not dying of cancer.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Loving Kindness Meditation – Here\u2019s an article about it<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

May sound a bit hokey but feels good to me to. Close your eyes, take a deep breath and imagine the person \/ people you are thinking about.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Focus on yourself:<\/em><\/p>\n

May I be happy, may I be healthy, may I be peaceful and at ease.<\/p>\n

Think of someone you care deeply for, imagine them, and say:<\/em><\/p>\n

May you be happy, may you be healthy, may you be peaceful and at ease.<\/p>\n

Think of a neutral person you see around regularly, and say:<\/em><\/p>\n

May you be happy, may you be healthy, may you be peaceful and at ease.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Think about someone you are having a difficult time with, and say:<\/em><\/p>\n

May you be happy, may you be healthy, may you be peaceful and at ease.<\/p>\n

Imagine your family sitting in a circle (or another community of your choosing), and say:<\/em><\/p>\n

May you be happy, may you be healthy, may you be peaceful and at ease.[\/vc_column_text][\/toggle][toggle color=”Accent-Color” heading_tag=”h3″ heading_tag_functionality=”default” title=”Additional Resources”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]Lung Cancer Foundation of America<\/u><\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/toggle][\/toggles][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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