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.