Targeted Therapy for Stage 4 Lung Cancer: 213 Real Stories

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 →

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.

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.

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 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 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 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 →

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

Patient Info: Rhonda Martin, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR-positive mutation

Metastatic Site: Brain; spine; hip bone; lymph nodes; cerebrospinal…

Rhonda Martin passed away on January 9, 2023 from complications of Stage IV EGFR-positive lung cancer, nearly 5 years after diagnosis in March 2018.

Lung Cancer Research FoundationRead more →

Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Elizabeth's Patient Story

Patient Info: Elizabeth Moir, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK mutation / ALK-positive

Metastatic Site: Liver; bones

Elizabeth passed away on August 27, 2021 at age 32 from complications of Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer, after earlier achieving a July 2019 scan with no evidence of disease on oral targeted therapy.

Lung Cancer Research FoundationRead more →

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

Patient Info: Duane Steiner, Male, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive / ALK gene mutation identified by molecular or genomic testing

Living more than 6 years with incurable Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer, supported by targeted therapy, clinical-trial participation, Hope Lodge access, and periodic monitoring.

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 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 ALK Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Suzanne's Patient Story

Patient Info: Suzanne, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK mutation identified on tissue biopsy; blood biomarker test was negative

Metastatic Site: Not specified

Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer was stable for almost 4 years on alectinib before progression in mid-2023; Suzanne moved to brigatinib and radiation and was working toward stability again.

Lung Cancer Research FoundationRead more →

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

Patient Info: Donna Preston, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK mutation

Metastatic Site: Not specified

Living nearly 9 years after a January 2015 Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer diagnosis, with ongoing targeted therapy and good functional status; exact drug name is not reported.

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 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 →

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 →

Stage IV Lung Cancer: Lorie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lorie Young | Stage IV

Biomarkers: NTRK1 fusion

After a couple of months on TL-118, Lorie’s CT scan showed a strong response, while longer-term disease control remained uncertain.

MD AndersonRead more →