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 Lung Cancer Reached Remission After Severe Nerve Damage and Neck Surgery

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: left cervical lymph nodes

Considered in complete remission after cervical lymph-node surgery, with no clinical or radiological progression 24 months after systemic treatment; alive and back at work 3 years after diagnosis.

PubMed CentralRead more →

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

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

Biomarkers: ALK-positive / ALK-rearranged

As of November 2022, Dan was living with Stage IV ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer on Alectinib, with stable scans since spring 2020 and ongoing monitoring.

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Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Bekah's Patient Story

Patient Info: Bekah Cunningham, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive

Metastatic Site: breast

Maintenance scans remained clear 6 years after starting alectinib, and she continued to live an active life with Stage IV lung cancer.

Dana-FarberRead 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 →

Living with Stage 4 Lung Cancer (Plus Radiation & My Follow Up!) | Amy’s Story (3 of 3)

Patient Info: Amy, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: MET amplification

Metastatic Site: Bone/femur and hips; adrenal gland

As of July 2022, Amy was 3.5 years after Stage IV squamous cell lung cancer diagnosis, not NED but stable for about 3 years on Crizotinib with ongoing imaging and local treatment to lung/adrenal sites.

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Pausing Alectinib During Pregnancy After a Complete Lung Cancer Response

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

She remained in complete remission 32 months after diagnosis after pausing alectinib during pregnancy and restarting it after delivery; her child had normal physical and psychomotor development.

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Stage IV MET Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Amy's Patient Story

Patient Info: Amy, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: MET amplification

Metastatic Site: Bone/femur; lymph nodes; shoulder; adrenal glands;…

As of July 2022, Amy had a rapid and strong response to Crizotinib after MET amplification was found, with pain and lumps improving within about 2 weeks after Keytruda had failed.

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

Patient Info: Amy, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: MET amplification identified later in the series; not known at initial treatment decision

As of July 2022, this first Amy segment covered diagnosis, second opinion, and the initial Keytruda-versus-clinical-trial decision before MET amplification was known; later response is addressed in the following series segments.

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Stage IV Lung Cancer: Shyreece's Patient Story

Patient Info: Shyreece Pompey, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Not reported

As of April 2022, Shyreece was living with Stage IV lung cancer and emphasized that speaking up in treatment decision-making helped her find the right doctor and treatment path.

The Patient StoryRead 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.

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Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Shyreece's Patient Story

Patient Info: Shyreece Pompey, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive mutation identified by FISH testing

As of March 2022, Shyreece was living and advocating nearly 8 years after being diagnosed with Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer; this segment does not report treatment response or a remission/NED status.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Long-term erlotinib treatment alongside worsening kidney vasculitis

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

Metastatic Site: bone

Bone metastases showed osteosclerotic change after erlotinib began, and the drug continued because he was benefiting from treatment despite worsening renal vasculitis.

PubMed CentralRead more →

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

Patient Info: Abby Kanarek, Female, 60s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: PD-L1 90%

Metastatic Site: Brain

As of November 2021, Abby was in remission 2 years after only 4 Keytruda infusions, with the lung cancer eliminated and ongoing surveillance by a multidisciplinary City of Hope team.

City of HopeRead more →

Stage IV Lung Cancer: Anne's Patient Story

Patient Info: Anne LaPorte, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Mutation identified by next-generation sequencing; specific mutation not reported

Metastatic Site: Spine; hips; lymph nodes; liver

As of November 2021, Anne was living with Stage IV lung cancer after oral treatment guided by tumor testing and later radiation, reporting a meaningful quality of life while advocating for self-advocacy and research.

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Stage IV Lung Cancer: Jeff's Patient Story

Patient Info: Jeff Meckstroth, Male | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Mutation identified by liquid biopsy; specific mutation not reported

Metastatic Site: Brain

As of November 2021, Jeff had lived more than 6 years after a Stage IV lung cancer diagnosis, with brain metastases cleared after an unnamed brain-penetrant therapy, while his cancer had progressed on multiple occasions.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage IV Lung Cancer: Keasha's Patient Story

Patient Info: Keasha Draft, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Keasha Draft died 1 month after marrying Chris Draft following a sudden Stage IV lung cancer diagnosis; the story is told to honor her and advance lung cancer awareness.

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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.

Living with Cancer & My Survivorship : Lung Cancer

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

Biomarkers: EGFR-positive; T790M mutation

As of September 2021, Ashley was living with incurable but treatable EGFR-positive T790M non-small cell lung cancer and described 43 months on treatment/journey while using community support to sustain hope.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage IV EGFR Lung Cancer: Ashley's Patient Story

Patient Info: Ashley, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR-positive; T790M-positive

Metastatic Site: Not reported

As of September 2021, Ashley was living with incurable but treatable EGFR-positive/T790M-positive lung cancer on daily osimertinib/Tagrisso with ongoing oncology monitoring and side-effect management.

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Cancer Survivor Story: How I Got Diagnosed with Lung Cancer

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

Biomarkers: EGFR-positive; T790M mutation

Metastatic Site: Both lungs

As of August 2021, Ashley had been living for almost 4 years with incurable but treatable EGFR-positive T790M non-small cell lung cancer involving many tiny nodules across both lungs.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Facial paralysis from progression of EGFR-positive metastatic lung cancer improved with osimertinib

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

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 21 p.Leu858Arg mutation.

Metastatic Site: brain; leptomeninges and facial nerves

Osimertinib rapidly resolved the bilateral facial weakness and reduced the brain lesions, but after 15 months seizures recurred and three smaller brain metastases had increased in size.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Alectinib restored vision from an eye metastasis of ALK-positive lung cancer

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

Biomarkers: ALK-positive.

Metastatic Site: right choroid of the eye; liver; bone; brain

After nearly eight months of response to alectinib, the lung cancer progressed in the liver, bone, and brain; lorlatinib was started, but he died on July 3, 2020.

PubMed CentralRead more →