Surgery for Stage 4 Lung Cancer: 112 Real Stories

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 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 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: 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 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.

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: 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.

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.

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

Patient Info: Bill, Male | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 21 mutation

Metastatic Site: Spine; brain; hips/bone

Stage IV EGFR exon 21 lung cancer improved in brain and spine on osimertinib, but later lung-mass growth led to clinical-trial treatment; Bill remained active in advocacy and felt positive about progress.

Lung Cancer Research FoundationRead more →

Stage IV Lung Cancer: Xavier's Patient Story

Patient Info: Xavier Sanders, Male | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver; brain; lymph nodes

Living with Stage IV lung cancer involving lymph nodes, liver, and 20 to 30 brain tumors while advocating for service members and caregiver support; exact treatment regimen is not reported.

Lung Cancer Research FoundationRead more →

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

Patient Info: Gerri, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR-positive / EGFR-mutated

Metastatic Site: Not reported

Living actively with Stage IV EGFR-positive NSCLC after wedge resection and unnamed EGFR-directed targeted therapy, with major hiking and travel goals continuing after diagnosis.

Lung Cancer Research FoundationRead more →

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

Patient Info: Maureen, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: KRAS mutation

Metastatic Site: Not reported

Living with KRAS-mutated Stage IV lung cancer after initial Stage I diagnosis, later surgery, and radiation, while remaining active in KRAS and lung cancer advocacy.

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 →

Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Duncan's Patient Story

Patient Info: Duncan Edmonstone, Male, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive / ALK+ mutation

Metastatic Site: Brain

Living 6 years after Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer with brain metastasis, doing well on ongoing alectinib targeted therapy with minimal side effects.

The Christie NHSRead 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 →

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.

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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.

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EGFR-mutated Stage IV lung cancer with later brain progression

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

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 19 deletion; acquired EGFR C797S mutation; acquired ROS1 rearrangement

Metastatic Site: brain|bone

She died about 20 months after diagnosis after brain progression and a severe postoperative stroke.

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Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Jake's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: ALK-positive mutation

Metastatic Site: brain; lung; ankle bone

As of May 2026, Jake was 28 and had lived more than 13 years with Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer, with ongoing treatment history including targeted therapy, surgeries, radiation, clinical-trial therapy, and recent chemotherapy.

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More than 5 years of disease control with maintenance chemotherapy for Stage IV lung cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male | Stage IV

Biomarkers: KRAS mutation; TP53 mutation

Metastatic Site: brain

After more than 60 months of follow-up and prolonged maintenance chemotherapy, the latest assessment found no evidence of current tumor progression.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage IVA EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma: stable disease on first-line osimertinib

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

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 19 deletion; baseline EGFR exon 20 T790M mutation; ALK IHC negative; PD-L1 TPS 30%; TTF-1-positive

Metastatic Site: pleura; malignant pleural-pericardial adhesions

As of April 2026, she had stable disease for more than 9 months on first-line osimertinib, with no progressive disease, no recurrent pleural effusion, ECOG improvement from 2 to 0, and no treatment-related adverse events.

PubMed CentralRead more →