I am sixty. Six omg I can’t believe this is true.
The first thing I said when I got up this morning was ‘Linnea, it’s your birthday. You’re still alive. Not sure how you do it, but you do.’
Gotta say, I didn’t think I was going to have an opportunity to get old. And so far, I’m loving it.
However it is all very bittersweet. Yesterday I spent time with someone who I care very much for. Someone who is young–too young–and who is in the last stages of fighting this disease.
And that breaks my flipping heart.
We’ve made significant progress when it comes to the treatment of lung cancer. More of us are living longer. However, the majority of effective treatments are still targeted therapies that are classified as inhibitors. By definition, inhibition restrains or restricts. When you are talking about targeted therapies, inhibition is almost always temporary. Cancer is an incredibly wily bitch; it finds a way around.
And sadly, medical research doesn’t operate at quite the same speed as wildly mutating cells.
It’s all quite complicated, actually. Regulations, incentives, the sheer enormity of the problem. However, from the perspective of the patient, it is actually absolutely straight forward. We want to live. And far too many of us are still dying.
So yes, I am happy to have this opportunity to turn sixty. It is a reminder of far we have come. But also how far we have to go.
xo
life and breath: outliving lung cancer 
Wishing you a very happy 60th birthday! Thank you, as always, for sharing your journey and your strength!
Happy, happy birthday, Linnea!!! Yes, life is a challenge – and you have definitely risen to the challenge! I’m older than you, have lost a husband to Alzheimer’s, a brother recently to cancers and renal failure, friends to pancreatic cancer, but I am keeping busy like you are, with family, many activities etc. We are “hanging in there” and taking each day at a time!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Wishing you a very happy 60th birthday! Thank you, as always, for sharing your journey and your courage.
Linnea, have a very happy 60th birthday! You’ve definitely earned it. Here’s to a year full of good health and happiness — and I agree, may research please go much faster! Thanks for being so inspiring and keeping up the good fight.
Happy Birthday!! A day at a time a trial at a time you will make it to 61.
The fight goes on and you are one the leaders. I’m very glad to be your friend and that you have “achieved” 60! Congratulations!👈🏼❤️✊🏼
Happy Birthday, Linnea!
Happy Birthday Linnea!!! I turned 60 in March – still amazed at that number!! Enjoy this beautiful celebration of your birth!! Love, Karen
Happy birthday Linnea I loved reaching sixty last year xx
Happy Birthday Linnea! Enjoy your day and wishing you many more good ones!
Happy 60 Linnea!
Happy Birthday Linnea! Wishing you many, many more! Let’s all grow old together. 🎂
Happy, happy birthday, Linnea. Wishing you many, many more.
Happy Birthday to you.
And peace to another dear friend….
Cheryl
+1 on your sentiments, you young’un (2 years less than me).
May there be more returns of the day than you imagined.
Best hopes,
Craig in PA
Happy 60th Linnea!!! And congratulations on getting there. You’re amazing. Just keep fighting. I’m hoping you make it to 70 and 80! If anyone with a wily strain of cancer can, it’s you!