Stage II EGFR Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Daniel's Patient Story

What happened, in summary

Daniel West had no symptoms before a routine heart scan in October 2022 showed 2 nodules in his right lung. A bronchoscopy biopsy confirmed early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. Daniel, who had quit smoking in 2006, sought a second opinion at UT MD Anderson because another nodule remained and he wanted a full treatment plan. On February 6, 2023, he had a robotic lobectomy to remove the middle right lung lobe and 14 lymph nodes. Three lymph nodes were cancerous, so his diagnosis was updated to Stage IIB. He completed 4 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy from March through June 2023. The regimen was difficult, causing neuropathy, sciatica, stomach ulcers and a deep vein thrombosis, so doctors switched chemotherapy to reduce side effects. Biomarker testing showed the tumor was EGFR positive. In May 2023, Daniel started daily osimertinib to help prevent recurrence, with treatment planned through June 2026. He also used supportive care, palliative care and integrative medicine to manage side effects such as fatigue, cramps, dry skin, nail changes and mouth sores. As of April 2026, Daniel had shown no evidence of active disease for more than 2 years, while stable lung nodules continued to be monitored with checkups and scans every 3 months.