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

Patient Info: Laura, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive / ALK-rearranged

Metastatic Site: Not reported

Laura was living with incurable Stage IV ALK-positive NSCLC, continuing targeted therapy and regular CT monitoring after trying multiple TKIs and a clinical trial.

The Patient StoryRead more →

EGFR Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Michelle's Patient Story

Patient Info: Michelle Vacca, Female, 40s

Biomarkers: EGFR mutation at recurrence; later rare mutation not named

As of November 2025, Michelle still actively had recurrent NSCLC, but her disease had remained stable on targeted therapy and an investigational kinase inhibitor clinical trial, allowing good quality of life.

City of HopeRead more →

Stage IV ROS1 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Lysa's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: ROS1-positive / ROS1-rearranged

Metastatic Site: spine; later new sites not specified

After more than a decade with Stage IV ROS1-positive NSCLC, Lysa was stable on a clinical-trial targeted therapy and no longer needed chemotherapy.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Limited-stage small-cell lung cancer: complete response after salvage chemoradiation and continued serplulimab

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 40s

Biomarkers: PD-L1 CPS 1

As of May 13, 2025, after salvage chemoradiation, irinotecan, and continued serplulimab for isolated supraclavicular nodal recurrence, he remained in complete response with no radiologic recurrence or metastasis on brain MRI and CT of the neck, chest, and abdomen.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage II EGFR Lung Cancer: Samantha's Patient Story

Patient Info: Samantha Vaughn, Female | Stage II

Biomarkers: EGFR mutation

Samantha had Stage II EGFR-mutated lung cancer removed surgically and was receiving post-operative daily Tagrisso through a clinical trial. As of June 2025, she reported clear results so far but remained on active targeted therapy.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage IV KRAS Lung Cancer: Rosemary's Patient Story

Patient Info: Rosemary Conway, female, 60s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: KRAS mutation

After 14 months on daraxonracib in a clinical trial, Rosemary’s Stage IV lung cancer had stopped growing and she had returned to walking and lifting weights.

Dana-FarberRead more →

ALK-Fusion Small Cell Lung Cancer Responding to ALK-Targeted Therapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EML4-ALK fusion

Metastatic Site: brain

After several earlier treatments stopped controlling the cancer, ALK-targeted iruplinalkib produced a partial response and was still controlling disease after more than 8 months.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage IV ALK Lung Adenocarcinoma: Shirley's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: ALK mutation

As of December 2024, Shirley was living with Stage IV ALK-positive lung adenocarcinoma and had stable disease on a fourth-generation ALK inhibitor clinical trial that began in July 2024.

The Patient StoryRead more →

How Clinical Trials Helped Me Fight Stage 4 Cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive / ALK-rearranged

Metastatic Site: Not specified

As of December 2024, this anonymized patient described living 10.5 years with Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer and said her current clinical-trial treatment was working, with tumors shrinking.

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Doctors Assured Me It Wasn’t Cancer!

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

Biomarkers: ALK-rearranged

Metastatic Site: mediastinum, pleura

Shirley was living with Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer on a phase 2 ALK clinical trial; scans remained stable after 2 scan sets, but the large mass persisted.

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Stage IV Lung Cancer: Natalie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Natalie, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: lungs, lymph nodes

As of December 2024, Natalie had restarted chemotherapy after progression, and the current chemotherapy had stopped growth for the moment while she continued transplant evaluation.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage IV Lung Cancer: Florence's Patient Story

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

Metastatic Site: Brain

As of the September 2024 article update, Florence was living with metastatic lung cancer, traveling every 3 weeks for immunotherapy in a clinical trial, and reported less fatigue, more energy, and a return to sports and social life.

Lung Cancer: Pascal's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Pascal, Male, 60s

As of the September 2024 article update, Pascal had resumed sports, felt well, and had been in complete remission for 26 months after an immunotherapy clinical trial following chemotherapy and radiation failure.

Stage II Lung Cancer: Att's Patient Story

Patient Info: Att Callahan, Female, 70+ | Stage II

As of July 2024, Att was receiving monthly post-surgery immunotherapy and scans every other month after clinical-trial chemoimmunotherapy and lobectomy, with doctors believing they had removed all visible cancer.

MD AndersonRead more →

RET-rearranged metastatic lung cancer responding to selpercatinib after pralsetinib

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: KIF5B-RET fusion; PD-L1 negative

Metastatic Site: brain

More than 5 years after her 2018 diagnosis, selpercatinib was ongoing after 8 months with continued brain response and stable lung disease.

PubMed CentralRead more →

More than five years with EGFR-mutated lung cancer and untreated brain metastases

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 60s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR L858R mutation; acquired EGFR T790M mutation

Metastatic Site: brain, pleura

Zorifertinib produced partial responses in both brain and extracranial disease, with 3 years of progression-free survival and more than 4 years of intracranial control. By December 2023, she remained alive on aumolertinib with overall survival of more than 65 months, or 5+ years, from treatment start.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage IV EGFR Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Anne's Patient Story

Patient Info: Anne Laporte, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR-mutated; several additional mutations mentioned but not specified

Metastatic Site: Spine; liver; lymph nodes

As of March 2024, Anne was living with Stage IVB EGFR-mutated NSCLC on a clinical trial after progression on Tagrisso, with early signs of decreased tumor burden and major improvement in pain.

The Patient StoryRead more →

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

Patient Info: Tim Monds, Male, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: High PD-L1 expression

Metastatic Site: Other lung lobes / lung nodules

As of March 2024, Tim Monds was identified as a Stage IV lung cancer survivor involved in discussion of the PaCES early palliative-care project and broader lung cancer advocacy.

Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Matt's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Matt Hiznay, Male, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK mutation / ALK-positive

Metastatic Site: Not reported

As of November 2023, Matt was a 12-year survivor with Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer in remission, no evidence of disease, and ongoing lorlatinib treatment.

Cleveland ClinicRead more →

Stage IV EGFR Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Tiffany's Patient Story

Patient Info: Tiffany, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR mutation

Metastatic Site: Bone: pelvis, right femur, cervical spine

As of March 2023, Tiffany had benefited from Tagrisso plus Cyramza, but later CT findings suggested worsening disease and she had started a new early-stage clinical trial with results pending.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage IV EGFR Lung Adenocarcinoma: Emily's Patient Story

Patient Info: Emily Bannister, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR Exon 19-positive; no other driver mutations present

Metastatic Site: Intrathoracic lymphatic spread

Emily had Stage IV EGFR Exon 19-positive lung adenocarcinoma with a strong early response to trial-based targeted therapy, and later passed away on March 14, 2023 from complications caused by Stage IV lung cancer.

Lung Cancer Research FoundationRead more →

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

Patient Info: Shyreece, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK rearrangement / ALK-positive

Metastatic Site: Brain

As of March 2022, Shyreece was a long-term Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer survivor with later brain metastases, ongoing treatment decisions, and advocacy focused on biomarker testing, trials, and disparities in Black lung cancer care.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Lung Cancer Patient Stories: Clinical Trials (& Patient Self-Advocacy!) | Shyreece’s Story (3 of 4)

Patient Info: Shyreece Pompey, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Actionable biomarker identified by biomarker testing; specific mutation not stated

Metastatic Site: Not reported

As of March 2022, Shyreece was living with Stage IV lung cancer after moving from an initial chemotherapy cocktail to an unnamed targeted therapy pill and later participating in a clinical trial.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage IV Lung Cancer: Steve's Patient Story

Patient Info: Steve Castellaw, 70+ | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: right pelvis, L1 and L2 vertebrae, skull

After about 2 years on sotorasib, Steve had a large reduction in tumor size and his latest scans continued to look good while he returned to golf, exercise, and normal daily life.