Clara Mae Cirk, a 30-year-old identified with stage 4 lung most cancers, shares how most cancers has reshaped her perspective on power and self-care.
Clara Mae Cirk, a 30-year-old identified with stage 4 lung most cancers, sat down with CURE to share how most cancers has reshaped her perspective on power, self-care, and her future.
Within the interview, she defined that though she has at all times been mentally sturdy, most cancers has examined her resilience in unprecedented methods, leaving her with little alternative however to “push by way of.”
“I’ve at all times been a reasonably mentally sturdy particular person. … Nonetheless, this entire expertise with most cancers has clearly actually examined me, and it has been the toughest factor I’ve ever completed,” she defined within the interview.
Since her prognosis, she has prioritized herself extra and embraced time for therapeutic. Trying ahead, Cirk says she hopes to amplify her advocacy by talking at conferences and connecting with different younger adults with lung most cancers.
Notably, Cirk highlighted how she makes use of social media as a platform to attach with others with most cancers in a earlier interview with CURE.
CURE: How has your perspective on private power developed since your prognosis of stage 4 lung most cancers, notably because you started sharing your experiences?
Cirk: I feel, with regards to power and resilience, I’ve at all times been a reasonably mentally sturdy particular person with good psychological fortitude, and I can simply push by way of issues. Nonetheless, this entire expertise with most cancers has clearly actually examined me, and it has been the toughest factor I’ve ever completed. However, on the similar time, it is like, is it the toughest factor I’ve ever completed? I do not know. It is simply sort of fascinating to mirror on.
I’ve simply been by way of loads in my life, so I feel that this was simply one other take a look at. It’s fascinating as a result of folks say, “You are so sturdy,” however being sturdy is sort of the one alternative I’ve. So, I am simply going to push by way of it and determine it out.
Since your prognosis of stage 4 lung most cancers, how has your method to self-care and prioritizing your self (whether or not in your profession, relationships, or every day life) shifted?
I might say that I positively prioritize myself much more. On the subject of issues like my profession, for instance, I do not wish to return to company America, and that is the primary factor I am not going to do. I feel you get [diagnosed with] one thing like [cancer], and also you get this break day to mirror.
You’re feeling the load of how aggravating most cancers is, but in addition a weight is relieved from all these different pressures like profession and being social with family and friends. That sort of goes away since you’re busy with most cancers, and so you’ll be able to deal with you. And that is been actually rewarding.
Trying forward, whether or not it’s life after remedy or persevering with to make use of your platform for advocacy, what are you most excited or hopeful about?
Yeah, I feel that I positively wish to become involved in going to totally different conferences, seminars or roundtables, or no matter it might be, and simply connecting with different most cancers sufferers and different docs and leaders on this trade. You understand, how can we fund extra most cancers analysis? And for me, it is to not be egocentric, like, “getting my title on the market,” or no matter, however I do wish to be the voice of 30-year-olds with stage 4 lung most cancers.
I suppose getting my title on the market, talking and telling my story, in addition to simply persevering with with advocacy [networks] could be what I am wanting ahead to sooner or later.
Transcript has been edited for readability and conciseness.
References
- “Affected person With Stage 4 Lung Most cancers Shares How She Makes use of Social Media,” by Ryan Scott. CURE. Information; Aug. 28, 2025. https://www.curetoday.com/view/patient-with-stage-4-lung-cancer-shares-how-she-uses-social-media
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