Genetic Testing, Targeted Therapy, and the Power of Winning Each Day

In July 2016, Frank was a 56-year-old personal trainer in peak physical condition. When a persistent cough emerged, he and his doctor dismissed it as allergies. Ten days later, the cough had not improved, leading to sinus and chest X-rays. Fluid in the left lung indicated a more serious condition, and upon draining two liters, laboratory results revealed cancer cells in both lungs. Shockingly, Frank was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer, even though his only symptom was a mild cough.

While news of cancer was devastating, it was not entirely unexpected. Frank’s parents and sister had also battled the disease, and genetic testing confirmed a predisposition to lung cancer. Initially, daily oral medication was prescribed as the first line of treatment. However, after four months on this regimen, Frank’s condition severely declined: he lost 25 pounds, had no energy, and struggled to train his clients. By Thanksgiving, he feared he would not live to see Christmas.

In a final attempt to halt his decline, Frank’s medical team performed a lung biopsy to identify a potential mutation that might respond to targeted therapy. He tested positive for EGFR and switched to a newly approved oral medication specific to that biomarker. The transformation was almost immediate. Within days, Frank found the energy to return to his gym routine. By the following day, he completed a full workout. Feeling newly motivated, he adopted the mantra “WIN the Day,” a message that resonates in his social media posts, fundraising initiatives, and public speaking appearances.

Today, Frank is back at full strength and has become a Cancer Exercise Specialist. He uses his story to encourage others with lung cancer, emphasizing the importance of research, early testing, and staying positive through adversity. Though his life has changed, he believes this journey gave him a renewed sense of purpose: to support fellow patients and spread hope wherever he goes.