I have learned that a person is never completely alone, as long as you dare to ask for and accept help. - Lennie

I'm Lennie de Man, born in 1956, and I live in Zwijndrecht in the Netherlands. For years I had suffered from a tickly cough, which mainly occurred when I was worried or stressed. My former GP thought it could be related to medicine I'd been taking since my heart attack in December 2010. I stopped the medicine, but the cough remained. In mid-October 2018, the tickly cough turned into a heavy, dry cough which cost me a lot of energy every day. My doctor told me I had contracted an autumn virus. Despite antibiotic treatments, I didn't feel better. By early November, I couldn't even take a step without being incredibly short of breath.

I was immediately referred to hospital. Within two days, 4.2 litres of fluid had been removed from my lung through a drain. A few days later, cancer cells had been found in that fluid. The PET scan showed a large tumour in my upper right lung, with cancer cells in the lung membranes and lymph nodes between the lungs. I was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic lung cancer. The doctor gave me a life expectancy of eight to a maximum of twelve months.

I didn't know what was happening to me. I thought I had ended up in hospital with double pneumonia. Cancer? That announcement hit me very hard. Two weeks before admission, I was still able to do everything. My whole life was turned upside down. Since I live alone, I had difficulty taking care of myself those days. I had never felt so helpless in my life.

In December 2018, I started four heavy chemotherapy treatments in combination with immunotherapy. I considered this a great gift for my body and completely surrendered to the treatment. The therapy worked immediately, without any significant side effects. As of September 2019, there were only three small cancer cells in my right lung and lymph nodes, and they've remained calm and stable since then. The large tumour is no longer visible at all on the scans. After two years and 34 treatments, my therapy stopped in December 2020. Since June 2025, I only need scans once a year.

I have received a lot of support from family, friends and my large social network. I'm very grateful for all the professional help from my GP, the respiratory nurse and my pulmonologist. I now follow oncological fitness, which helps with both exercises and social support. Since January 2023, I've been working as a volunteer within Lung Cancer Netherlands. As an expert by experience, I enjoy being able to do something for fellow sufferers.

In November 2022, I published my life story in book form, which focuses on learning to live with lung cancer. It was my fervent wish to inspire others with my experiences.

My advice: plan your activities well, including moments of rest. Listen carefully to your body and dare to say 'no' in time.