Stage III ALK Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Michelle's Patient Story
This lung cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Stage at diagnosis
- Stage III
- Subtype
- Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
- Biomarkers
- ALK-positive
- Sex
- Female
- Treatment
- targeted therapy and supportive care
- Outcome
- Responding Well
Treatment course, step by step
- Chest X-ray during hospitalization for scrub typhus found an unexpected lung finding
- Diagnosed with Stage IIIB lung cancer
- Genetic testing identified ALK-positive lung cancer
- Started Lorbrena (lorlatinib) targeted therapy
- Cough disappeared within days
- First scan a few months later showed cancer reduced by nearly 50%
- No chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery is described.
What happened, in summary
Michelle Bos-Lun, a Vermont state representative, was hospitalized after returning from Nepal with what turned out to be scrub typhus. During that workup, doctors ordered a chest X-ray and saw something they could not explain. About 3 weeks of additional testing led to a second diagnosis: Stage IIIB lung cancer. Michelle had not expected lung cancer, especially without a smoking history, but she responded by learning as much as she could and asking what could be done next. At first, her oncologist could not yet tell her the exact type of lung cancer or treatment plan. One possibility offered hope: if a genetic mutation was present, targeted therapy might be available. Two weeks later, Michelle learned she had ALK-positive lung cancer. She started Lorbrena, also called lorlatinib. Within days, her persistent cough disappeared. A few months later, her first scan showed the cancer had been reduced by nearly 50%, better than her doctor expected. Michelle continues working, advocating, and spending time with the people who matter most. Her story is best classified as responding well because the supported outcome is strong early response to ALK-targeted therapy, not cancer-free or completed treatment.
Where this story comes from
This is a lay summary of an account first published by GO2 Foundation. Read the original in full
These are lay summaries of published cancer stories, for information only. No two cancers behave the same way, and nothing here predicts your own diagnosis or replaces advice from your oncology team.