Stage IV Lung Cancer: Joanne's Patient Story

Patient Info: Joanne Sabol, Female, 60s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: abdomen

More than 2 years after starting pembrolizumab for recurrent Stage IV lung cancer, Joanne had an 81% tumor reduction and continued to feel well while remaining on treatment.

Memorial Sloan KetteringRead more →

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 FoundationRead more →

Balance After Cancer - Is it Even Possible? (Part 1 of 2) — Case 1

Patient Info: Anonymized, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: liver; brain; bone

At age 35, the patient had lived with Stage IV lung cancer for 6 years after spread to the liver, brain and bone. The patient remained ambulatory while receiving a 10th treatment line.

Stage IV EGFR Lung Cancer: Marnie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Marnie Clark, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR-positive

Metastatic Site: brain

Two years after diagnosis, Marnie reported that the brain tumor was gone, her leg was almost back to normal, and her first targeted medication continued to control the lung cancer.

Stage IV Lung Cancer: Carla's Patient Story

Patient Info: Carla, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: brain

After repeated resistance and a serious episode involving a brain lesion and extensive fluid around the lung, Carla recovered and was stable without new symptoms on her eighth line of treatment.

Stage IV Lung Cancer: Katherine's Patient Story

Patient Info: Katherine Adelufosi, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

After persistent self-advocacy, Katherine found a targeted medication and chemotherapy that began working, and she remained active in peer support and lung-cancer awareness.

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.

Stage IV Lung Cancer: Mary's Patient Story

Patient Info: Mary Lynn Moser, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: brain

Mary Lynn wrote this message before her death after nearly 10 years with lung cancer and more than 5 years with brain metastases, while receiving aggressive immunotherapy and chemotherapy.

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.

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

Patient Info: Rachael Malmberg, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR-positive; specific alteration not reported

Rachael remained highly active, working full time, leading radon-advocacy organizations, and raising her 6-year-old daughter while living with Stage IV EGFR-positive NSCLC.

10 Tips for Lung Cancer Caregiving

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: brain

She died about 5 years after her 2015 diagnosis, after her family cared for her through progressive illness and increasing daily needs.

Stage IV Lung Cancer: Angie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Angie Brice Hessbruegge, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Angie remained on chemotherapy and focused on parenting, counseling, faith, and long-term survivor stories while living with Stage IV lung cancer.

Diagnosed at 38, a Veteran, Living with ALK-Positive Lung Cancer: Laura's Story

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

Biomarkers: ALK-positive

Three years after diagnosis, Laura remained on lorlatinib with improved energy and quality of life while continuing to live with Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer.

GO2 FoundationRead more →

Stage IV Lung Cancer: Michael's Patient Story

Patient Info: Michael O’Donnell, Male | Stage IV

More than 5 years after a Stage IV diagnosis, Michael remained on immunotherapy with disease controlled to his and his doctor’s satisfaction and scans every 3 months to watch for growth.

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

Patient Info: Valerie Brown, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 19 deletion

Valerie was stable for more than 20 months on targeted therapy for Stage IV EGFR exon 19-deleted lung adenocarcinoma.

Finding Hope in Emerging Therapies

Patient Info: Anonymized, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: spine/bones, including T11 vertebra

An unnamed targeted therapy shrank all visible tumors with minimal side effects, allowing the patient to consider returning to surgical residency.

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.

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.

Inoperable small cell lung cancer with brain metastases and treatment response

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Brain

After chemotherapy, radiation, and adjunct metabolic/complementary measures, the patient’s lung tumor shrank by 24%, later brain metastases disappeared on control scan, and arm function improved.

Stage IV Small Cell Lung Cancer: Sylvane's Patient Story

Patient Info: Sylvane, Female, 70+ | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Bone; adrenal glands

After 3 chemotherapy cycles for Stage IV SCLC, Sylvane’s lung tumor had shrunk by half and bone and adrenal metastases had completely regressed, with a final chemo-immunotherapy cycle and then immunotherapy planned.

Aggressive lung cancer with bone metastases and concurrent localized breast cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Bone: skull, spine, clavicle

The patient was still receiving carboplatin and Taxol for aggressive lung cancer with bone metastases, while her caregiver reported rapid clinical improvement, pain relief, disappearance of a visible forehead metastasis, and 1 cm reduction in a concurrent localized breast tumor.

Stage IV Lung Cancer: Agnès's Patient Story

Patient Info: Agnès, Female, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Tumor mutation identified; specific alteration not named

Agnès had metastatic lung cancer with a tumor mutation that allowed home-based treatment; her breathing and mobility improved and some metastases and one nodule disappeared.

Stage IV Lung Cancer: Thierry's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Thierry, Male, 50s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Brain

Thierry had lung cancer with a brain metastasis treated with urgent brain surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and lung tumor surgery; later he lived under close surveillance after seizures and treatment-related recovery.

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 HospitalRead more →