From a Sudden Diagnosis to Lasting Hope

At age 47, Andrea R. was stunned to discover she had stage IV lung cancer, despite having no known risk factors. A persistent cough that began in early 2015 and lingering jet lag from a business trip led her to suspect pneumonia. However, a routine test uncovered a 6 cm mass on her lung. Worse yet, the cancer had spread to her bones, adrenal glands, brain, and even showed early signs in her colon.

Desperate for answers and determined to be there for her children—then ages 8 and 11—Andrea began chemotherapy paired with low-dose radiation under the care of Dr. Garth Nicholas at The Ottawa Hospital. After six weeks, scans revealed only partial effectiveness. When her health deteriorated further due to an intestinal perforation, the medical team performed emergency surgery, led by Dr. Guillaume Martel, which saved her life.

Soon after, Andrea received a newer form of immunotherapy called nivolumab through a compassionate use program. Initially, her condition worsened, but within eight months of starting this therapy, scans showed that cancer outside her lungs was gone, and the primary tumor had shrunk significantly—from 6 cm to about 2.5 cm, now largely dormant. Though Andrea experienced side effects like fatigue, dry eyes, and joint pain, she calls them a small price to pay for such life-changing results.

Today, Andrea no longer requires immunotherapy and appreciates every moment with her growing children. She credits both her medical team and cutting-edge research for her remarkable turnaround. Dr. Nicholas notes that while not every patient responds as dramatically as Andrea, immunotherapy has rapidly evolved into a central pillar for treating advanced lung cancer. Ongoing studies aim to uncover why certain tumors respond so well and how to improve outcomes for all patients.