ALK Positive Lung Cancer: 68 Real Stories

68 stories match lung cancer and ALK positive. 62 of them mention targeted therapy.

Cancer Stories

Leslie, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Leslie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Leslie, female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive

Metastatic Site: brain

Her brain metastases responded to targeted therapy without radiation, and she remains active and planning for the future while participating in a clinical trial.

GO2 Foundation
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Turning the Tide: My Journey into Lung Cancer Advocacy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive

She continued living with Stage IV ALK-positive NSCLC while advocating for research funding, traveling, and returning to tap dancing.

LUNGevity
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Sharon, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Sharon's Patient Story

Patient Info: Sharon Schneider, Female, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive

Metastatic Site: brain

After brain metastases and about 2 years of oral chemotherapy, Sharon remained in treatment, resumed jogging at least 3 days a week, and completed her first marathon at age 50.

LUNGevity
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Frank, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Frank's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Frank Sierawski, Male | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive

Frank was disease-free for more than 7 years while continuing his second ALK-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor after lobectomy and brain radiation.

LUNGevity
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Michelle, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Michelle's Patient Story

Patient Info: Michelle, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive

Metastatic Site: leptomeninges and cerebrospinal fluid / central…

Targeted therapy and proton craniospinal irradiation eliminated detectable leptomeningeal disease. Treatment side effects later passed, and Michelle continued rehabilitation.

LUNGevity
OutcomeResponding Well
Linnea, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Linnea's Patient Story

Patient Info: Linnea Olson, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK mutation / ALK-rearranged lung cancer

Metastatic Site: Lungs / intrapulmonary disease

Living long term with Stage IV ALK-positive NSCLC; ALK-targeted clinical trials controlled disease for years but were described as disease control rather than cure.

Massachusetts General Hospital
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Jay, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Jay's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Jay Petri, Male | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK mutation / ALK-rearranged lung cancer

Metastatic Site: Not reported

Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer treated through clinical trials at Mass General; he reported being cancer-free for nearly 1.5 years after going through 3 trials.

Massachusetts General Hospital
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Duane, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Duane's Patient Story

Patient Info: Duane Steiner, Male, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive / ALK gene mutation identified by molecular or genomic testing

Living more than 6 years with incurable Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer, supported by targeted therapy, clinical-trial participation, Hope Lodge access, and periodic monitoring.

American Cancer Society
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Michelle, who was diagnosed with Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage III ALK Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Michelle's Patient Story

Patient Info: Michelle Bos-Lun, Female | Stage III

Biomarkers: ALK-positive

Stage IIIB ALK-positive lung cancer responding to Lorbrena/lorlatinib, with cough improvement within days and first scan showing nearly 50% tumor reduction.

GO2 Foundation
OutcomeResponding Well
Suzanne, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Suzanne's Patient Story

Patient Info: Suzanne, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK mutation identified on tissue biopsy; blood biomarker test was negative

Metastatic Site: Not specified

Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer was stable for almost 4 years on alectinib before progression in mid-2023; Suzanne moved to brigatinib and radiation and was working toward stability again.

Lung Cancer Research Foundation
OutcomeSetback / Progression
Donna, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Donna's Patient Story

Patient Info: Donna Preston, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK mutation

Metastatic Site: Not specified

Living nearly 9 years after a January 2015 Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer diagnosis, with ongoing targeted therapy and good functional status; exact drug name is not reported.

Lung Cancer Research Foundation
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Marley, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Marley's Patient Story

Patient Info: Marley, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive

Metastatic Site: Chest lymph nodes; axillary lymph nodes; lymph nodes…

Living with Stage IV ALK-positive NSCLC involving lymph nodes and malignant pleural fluid, with scans every 3 months; specific treatment regimen is not reported.

Lung Cancer Research Foundation
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Elizabeth, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Elizabeth's Patient Story

Patient Info: Elizabeth Moir, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK mutation / ALK-positive

Metastatic Site: Liver; bones

Elizabeth passed away on August 27, 2021 at age 32 from complications of Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer, after earlier achieving a July 2019 scan with no evidence of disease on oral targeted therapy.

Lung Cancer Research Foundation
OutcomeIn Memory
Duncan, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Duncan's Patient Story

Patient Info: Duncan Edmonstone, Male, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive / ALK+ mutation

Metastatic Site: Brain

Living 6 years after Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer with brain metastasis, doing well on ongoing alectinib targeted therapy with minimal side effects.

The Christie NHS
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Jeff, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Jeff's Patient Story

Patient Info: Jeff Meckstroth, Male | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive driver mutation

Metastatic Site: Brain

More than 6 years after an initial prognosis of about 6 months, Jeff was alive, preparing to retire and continuing biomarker-guided care; the brain metastases had disappeared within a few months of the therapy change.

The Patient Story
OutcomeLiving With Cancer / Ongoing Therapy
Nancee, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Nancee's Patient Story

Patient Info: Nancee Pronsati, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive; ALK fusion/rearrangement

Metastatic Site: bilateral lung nodules, brain

As of May 2026, Nancee had lived about 10 years with metastatic ALK-positive lung cancer, including brain progression, and continued long-term targeted therapy with quality of life as a major goal.

The Patient Story
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Jake, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Jake's Patient Story

Patient Info: Jake, Male, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive mutation

Metastatic Site: brain; lung; ankle bone

As of May 2026, Jake was 28 and had lived more than 13 years with Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer, with ongoing treatment history including targeted therapy, surgeries, radiation, clinical-trial therapy, and recent chemotherapy.

The Patient Story
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Kartik, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Kartik's Patient Story

Patient Info: Kartik, Male, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EML4/ALK mutation

Kartik was diagnosed with Stage IV ALK-rearranged lung cancer at age 28, continued working for several years through a targeted clinical trial, and died in 2015 at age 34.

GO2 Foundation
OutcomeIn Memory
Kelsey, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV EGFR Lung Cancer: Kelsey's Patient Story

Patient Info: Kelsey, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR mutation; later ALK mutation after progression

Metastatic Site: Bone — pelvis and spine/L5

Living with Stage IV lung cancer on a clinical trial after progression, with current treatment described as working and quality of life improved.

The Patient Story
OutcomeResponding Well
Megan, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Megan's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Megan, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive

Metastatic Site: Spine; chest lymph nodes; stomach lymph nodes

Stage IV ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer responded dramatically to daily targeted therapy, with latest scans described as no evidence of disease while she continues long-term targeted therapy.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Clara, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Clara's Patient Story

Patient Info: Clara, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive / ALK-rearranged after repeat Tempus testing

Metastatic Site: Pelvis; spleen

As of February 2026, ALK-targeted therapy had improved Clara’s symptoms enough that she no longer needed a walker or cane, and upcoming scans would determine whether pelvic tumor surgery remained an option.

The Patient Story
OutcomeResponding Well
Stephanie, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Stephanie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Stephanie, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK mutation / ALK-positive

Metastatic Site: ovaries; spine; liver; lung

Stage IV ALK-positive NSCLC is being managed with ALK-directed treatment; follow-up scans were described as improving, but the source does not state complete remission.

The Patient Story
OutcomeResponding Well