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Home » Patient Stories » Kim Verlin

Kim Verlin

What impact has NEC had on your life?

I was diagnosed with high grade Neuroendocrine Carcinoma with a lung primary and brain mets the Friday before Christmas 2016 (NEC is a type of very fast growing neuroendocrine tumour, grade 3b). My prognosis was six months. I had to quit my job on the spot – I had to start whole brain radiation immediately, followed by 8 rounds of chemo. I’m not allowed to drive because of the risk that I have a seizure. I have a lot of fatigue. The silver lining is that I’ve had a lot of time to travel and spend time making memories with my loved ones.

 What has been most helpful to you in your NEC experience?

The unwavering support of my husband, and Kate, our fabulous nurse. It’s a complicated illness that impacts everyone in a different way.

What advice would you give to a newly diagnosed patient?

  • Get copies of all your scans and medical reports as this will help with your doctors as well as insurance 
  • There are no stupid questions
  • Take everything one day at a time

 

(see pic of me below at the Peter Mac resort)

Patient Stories

Lana, NSW

Blurry vision had led to a diagnosis of Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease – a condition where multiple tumours grow in various parts of the body, including the brain, spinal cord, abdominal organs, and eyes.

Simon, VIC

We need greater awareness of VHL, better education for healthcare professionals, and up-to-date resources to guide patients through diagnosis and care.

Vanessa, ACT

I was in my late twenties when I first realised something wasn’t right. I began experiencing numbness in my back, and after months of tests and uncertainty, doctors discovered a cluster of tumours in my spine. That’s when I was diagnosed with VHL.

Patricia, NSW

There’s such little awareness about this cancer, even among medical professionals. I’ve had GPs say to me, “I’ve never seen a neuroendocrine cancer patient in my life.” And I tell them, “You probably have — you just didn’t diagnose them.”

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