We're Back! Q&A With Breathe Deep TOGETHER Team Captains — Case 2

Patient Info: Anonymized | Stage I

This patient reported being 13 years cancer-free after Stage I lung cancer, while still experiencing recurrence anxiety around follow-up visits.

Stage I Lung Adenocarcinoma: Julie's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Julie Jones, Female, 50s | Stage I

Julie resumed walking the day after VATS and completed a half marathon 53 days after surgery, finishing about 10 minutes slower than before surgery.

Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Robert's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Robert Tumanic, Male | Stage I

After SBRT, follow-up scans showed the treated tumors resolved and no additional tumors requiring treatment; as of May 2019, the treated sites were stable and no further lung-cancer therapy was required.

Stage IB lung cancer treated with left upper lobe resection and postoperative recovery story

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage I

After Stage IB lung cancer was treated with left upper lobe resection, she focused on recovery from significant postoperative pain; by about 2 months after surgery, the pain had greatly improved and she felt hopeful about regaining strength.

Stage I EGFR Lung Adenocarcinoma: Julie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Julie, Female, 40s | Stage I

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 19 deletion

Ongoing care after Stage IB EGFR exon 19 lung adenocarcinoma treated with lower left lobectomy and Tagrisso/osimertinib, with CT and MRI surveillance; no recurrence/NED statement is explicitly provided.

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Stage I Lung Cancer: Jennifer's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Jennifer Rosato Perea, Female | Stage I

Cancer-free after February 2022 lower-right-lobe lobectomy for Stage I lung cancer, with no chemotherapy, radiation, or clinical trial treatment needed; returned to running and completed endurance events.

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Unexpected blood vessel connection found during lung cancer surgery

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+ | Stage I

She recovered from postoperative complications and remained clinically stable at 8-month follow-up.

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Dave Bjork’s Stage 1 Lung Cancer Story

Patient Info: Dave Bjork, Male | Stage I

Dave survived more than 20 years after surgery for stage I lung cancer and became an advocate for early detection, screening and inclusion of early-stage survivors.

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Rosee

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male | Stage I

Biomarkers: Elevated carcinoembryonic antigen at detection; tumor biomarkers not reported

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No recurrence 7 months after surgery for a rare lung epithelial-myoepithelial cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 60s | Stage I

At 7-month follow-up, there was no sign of recurrence after surgery.

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Synchronous Stage IA lung adenocarcinoma and grade 4 glioblastoma: lung nodule regressed during brain-cancer therapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+ | Stage I

Biomarkers: Lung molecular biomarkers not reported; glioblastoma biomarker details not summarized in library fields

The Stage IA lung adenocarcinoma was monitored without lung-directed therapy and decreased from 18 mm to 9 mm while CNS-directed glioblastoma treatment continued; she remained alive with no lung cancer progression.

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Stage I EGFR Lung Cancer: Shira's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Shira, Female | Stage I

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 20 insertion

Shira had Stage IB lung cancer detected early through imaging and treated with surgery alone. Her tumor was later categorized as low risk of recurrence, and she described herself as cancer-free as of February 2026.

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Prior Stage IA lung adenocarcinoma with fungal airway disease mimicking recurrence

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+ | Stage I

Her prior Stage IA lung adenocarcinoma was surgically treated without adjuvant therapy, and later pulmonary lesions were attributed to allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis rather than cancer recurrence; symptoms and imaging improved after antifungal and inhaled therapy.

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Stage I Lung Cancer: Taylor's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Taylor, Female, Under 40 | Stage I

Taylor had a Stage IB 4 cm lung carcinoid tumor removed surgically with clean margins at age 21. She did not need chemotherapy or radiation and was 18 years post-diagnosis as of February 2026.

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Lung Cancer Treated With Sleeve Right Lower Lobectomy in COPD — Case 2

Patient Info: Anonymized, male | Stage I

He remained disease-free through 26 months of follow-up.

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Early lung adenocarcinoma found on screening with surgical recovery after tamponade complication

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 60s | Stage I

The Stage I lung adenocarcinoma was removed by wedge resection with clear margins. A life-threatening postoperative cardiac tamponade was successfully treated, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 19 with full recovery.

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Stage IA primary mucinous lung adenocarcinoma with enteric differentiation in a patient with CLL/SLL

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 70+ | Stage I

Biomarkers: Lung tumor markers supported mucinous adenocarcinoma with enteric features. CLL/SLL markers were present in lymph nodes, not lung metastasis.

As of January 2026, he remained free of lung cancer for 24 months after thoracoscopic wedge resection of localized Stage IA primary mucinous lung adenocarcinoma, while CLL/SLL continued to be managed separately.

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Second primary Stage I lung adenocarcinoma treated with segmentectomy and adjuvant pembrolizumab

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+ | Stage I

Biomarkers: PD-L1 <1%; no common targetable lung cancer changes found in EGFR, ALK, KRAS, BRAF, MET, PIK3CA, RET, ROS1, or NTRK.

At 6-month oncologic follow-up, PET-CT showed complete metabolic response with no evidence of residual disease after segmentectomy and adjuvant pembrolizumab.

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Lung Adenocarcinoma Recurring Years After Surgery in a Woman With a Separate Rectal Neuroendocrine Tumor

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

She died from progression of lung cancer about 12 years after the lung-cancer diagnosis and 13 years after the earlier rectal neuroendocrine-tumor procedure.

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Clinical Stage IB lung adenocarcinoma: no recurrence after thoracoscopic lobectomy and pneumatocele repair

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 60s | Stage I

Biomarkers: No molecular biomarkers reported; tumor markers were normal: CEA 2.1 ng/mL, SCC antigen 1.5 ng/mL, cytokeratin 19 fragment 0.9 ng/mL

As of March 2025, the patient had no recurrence after thoracoscopic left lower lobectomy for lung adenocarcinoma; postoperative pneumatocele-related air leak resolved with reinforcement and adhesive therapy.

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ALK-Fusion Small Cell Lung Cancer Responding to Ensartinib

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 70+ | Stage I

Biomarkers: EML4-ALK fusion; TP53 and RB1 mutations; PD-L1 at least 50%

The recurrent hilar lymph nodes shrank on ensartinib, and treatment was still ongoing at the January 2025 cutoff with more than 12 months without progression.

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Stage I lung adenocarcinoma treated with SBRT while protecting a leadless pacemaker

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+ | Stage I

SBRT was completed without complications or detected pacemaker malfunction.

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Early Lung Adenocarcinoma Found During Workup for a Separate Splenic Tumor

Patient Info: Anonymized, male, 60s | Stage I

He remained recurrence-free 24 months after lung surgery and continued CT surveillance every 6 months.

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Stage I Lung Cancer: Calvin's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Calvin, Male, Under 40 | Stage I

Calvin completed surgery for Stage I lung cancer, including removal of his entire left lung. As of February 2025, he was adapting to life with one lung and remained focused on family, activity, and self-advocacy.

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