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.