Chemotherapy for Stage 4 Lung Cancer: 217 Real Stories

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 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.

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 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.

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 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Usha's Patient Story

Patient Info: Usha Jain, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Tumor genetic profile available for navigation review, but specific results are not reported

Stage IV NSCLC after nearly 2 years of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, followed by watchful monitoring with routine scans; clinical trials were reviewed but not pursued.

GO2 FoundationRead more →

Stage IV HER2-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Glenna's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Glenna, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2 mutation confirmed by blood and tissue biopsy biomarker testing

Stage IV HER2-mutated NSCLC with first-line chemotherapy failure, then ongoing Enhertu from September 2023 and official NED/no evidence of disease status.

Lung Cancer Research FoundationRead more →

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

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

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 20 mutation

Metastatic Site: Bone — left leg and hip

Living with Stage IV EGFR exon 20 metastatic NSCLC involving bone, after chemotherapy, targeted therapy, a drug trial, and surgery to remove the primary lung mass; latest disease-control status is not clearly stated.

Lung Cancer Research FoundationRead more →

Stage IV Lung Cancer: Karen's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: Rare mutation affecting about 3% of lung cancer patients; mutation not named

Metastatic Site: Rib/bone involvement reported through recurrent tumor…

More than 8 years after initial Stage II lung cancer, Karen had a Stage IV recurrence requiring removal of a tumor and 2 ribs; she remained active and hopeful, but ongoing targeted treatment is not specifically stated.

Lung Cancer Research FoundationRead more →

Laura Greco: Stage IV Lung Cancer

Patient Info: Laura Greco, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK translocation / ALK-driven; MET amplification; EGFR amplification reported in brain tumor

Metastatic Site: Brain

Laura Greco passed away on July 14, 2024 after Stage IIIA ALK-driven lung cancer later metastasized to the brain and required repeated brain-directed treatment and targeted therapy.

Lung Cancer Research FoundationRead more →

Stage IV Lung Cancer: Mila's Patient Story

Patient Info: Mila Gardon, Female, 50s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Neck lymph nodes; skull; iliac bone

Stage IV lung cancer with spread to neck lymph nodes, skull, and iliac bone responded after cryotherapy and interventional therapy; lung tumors disappeared and tumor marker normalized, but the source does not state full remission or NED.

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 HospitalRead more →

Severe blood-clotting disorder, liver injury, and reversible kidney injury during treatment for Stage IV lung cancer

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

Biomarkers: PD-L1 about 1%; KRAS mutation

Metastatic Site: bone (right 4th and 5th ribs)

Restaging before cycle 4 showed a partial response. Cancer treatment was then interrupted as severe acquired iTTP, cholestatic liver injury, and reversible acute kidney injury required intensive management.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Lung cancer first discovered after a small-bowel blockage

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

Metastatic Site: jejunum|brain|bone

The cancer progressed to the brain and spine despite chemotherapy, and he was admitted to palliative care.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Long-term lung cancer control after immunotherapy-related diabetes

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

Biomarkers: PD-L1 80%; EGFR, ALK, ROS1 and BRAF negative

Metastatic Site: brain|liver

After years of disease control off pembrolizumab, a new brain lesion appeared in December 2025 and was treated with focused radiation. He remained clinically stable under oncology follow-up.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Lung adenocarcinoma that spread to the thyroid 9 years later

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

Metastatic Site: thyroid

After the thyroid metastasis was removed, she started systemic chemotherapy and remained under oncology management.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Long-term lung cancer response complicated by immune-related lung inflammation

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

Biomarkers: KRAS mutation; PD-L1 90%

Metastatic Site: pleura|lungs|peritoneum|bone|brain

By October 2025, the lung inflammation had resolved and she remained in systemic and intracranial remission.

PubMed CentralRead more →

HER2-mutated lung cancer: restarting targeted therapy after lung inflammation

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

Biomarkers: HER2 exon 20 insertion; PD-L1 negative

Metastatic Site: brain

Trastuzumab deruxtecan was restarted successfully after lung inflammation improved, but it was discontinued after 9 cycles when the cancer progressed.

PubMed CentralRead more →