EGFR Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patient Story

What happened, in summary

In December 2015, this patient was living with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer and taking Tarceva, also called erlotinib, which he had started in January. Much of this post reflected his effort to understand the fast-changing treatment landscape. He explained that EGFR-mutated tumors often develop resistance, including the T790M mutation, and that TAGRISSO/osimertinib might help some patients after resistance to Tarceva. He also mentioned Opdivo/nivolumab as part of the broader rise of immuno-oncology. For his own care, the immediate issue was uncertainty. At an oncology visit, he had blood tests and a chest exam and told his oncologist about more cough, chest pain, and fatigue. Because the symptoms might have been simple winter illness or cancer activity, he was scheduled for a control CT on December 21. The results would likely come after the holidays. As of December 2015, his status was active monitoring on erlotinib, not confirmed response or confirmed progression. The story captures the waiting period before imaging, while also showing how patients often follow research closely when future treatment options may matter. He was also balancing practical questions about drug access and cost with the emotional discipline of waiting for results during the holidays.