Lung cancer survivor credits keto diet, meditation, strength training, targeted therapy, and plenty of positivity for recovery
- Despite never smoking, Shirley Adrain was diagnosed with lung cancer, and it spread to her liver, bones, thyroid and adrenal glands, neck, and chest
- A genetic mutation meant she responded well to targeted therapy and this, along with some lifestyle changes, put her on the road to recovery and self-discovery
When Shirley Adrain became a mother in her 40s, she adopted a healthier lifestyle. Aspiring to live to 100, she exercised at least five times a week, consumed a sugar-free, low-carb diet, and only occasionally drank wine.
Recognised for her people development skills, she left her 20-year career in banking and founded a leadership coaching and diversity and inclusion consultancy, enabling her to have a better work-life balance. But, in August, 2020, a doctor’s devastating diagnosis threatened to derail Adrain’s best-laid plans.
Thinking little of it at the time, she consulted with her doctor about a sore throat and pain between her ribs. Five days later, after many tests, Adrain, 51, was shocked to learn she had stage IV lung cancer – non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), or adenocarcinoma, the most common type of the disease.
Lung cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in Hong Kong, according to the city’s Department of Health, and worldwide, as shown by Globocan 2020 data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Smoking is the biggest risk factor for lung cancer. Having never smoked, it hadn’t crossed Adrain’s mind that she could be at risk.
