Living with ALK-positive lung cancer
The first weeks after a diagnosis are often the hardest. Here you will find something to hold on to — and people who know what you are talking about.
Newly diagnosed
Take your time. You do not have to understand everything at once, and you do not have to decide straight away. It is normal to leave an appointment remembering only half of it.
What helps: write your questions down beforehand, bring someone with you, and ask whether you may record the conversation. Ask explicitly what your biomarker result means for the treatment being proposed.
And do ask for a second opinion. That is your right, and no doctor will hold it against you.
Everyday life
Many people with ALK+ lung cancer take targeted medication in tablet form and continue to work, travel and live their lives. At the same time, these treatments bring side effects and uncertainty.
Practical matters that come up often: reimbursement of your treatment through INAMI/RIZIV, your rights with your health insurance fund, returning to or adapting your work, and the follow-up of your scans.
Your GP, the oncology nurse and the hospital's social service are your first points of contact. We can tell you which questions others asked and what worked for them.
Our community
In our private Facebook group and at the monthly T'ALK café, patients, families and caregivers come together. No obligations, no agenda — just people who understand what you are going through.
You are not alone
Our private Facebook group is open to patients at any stage, to family members and caregivers, and to health professionals who support the ALK+ community. Low-threshold, at your own pace, among people who understand what you are going through.
Become part of our community (opens in a new tab)