What happened, in summary

Kathrin was a fitness professional living in Munich when fatigue and foot pain began to interrupt an active life. At first, the foot pain seemed like a sports injury from yoga or exercise. Imaging of the left foot showed a tumor, and biopsy revealed that it was not a primary bone tumor but a metastasis. PET imaging then showed Stage IV lung cancer that had spread widely, including to the bones, liver, and abdomen or belly. She said it was not in her head and not in her lymph nodes. Biomarker testing after bronchoscopy showed ALK-positive lung cancer, which made targeted therapy possible. Her first treatment was radiation to the left foot. Within a few days, the pain improved enough that she could walk again. Her second treatment was a once-daily targeted therapy pill that she expected to stay on for the rest of her life. After about 8 weeks, a PET scan showed that almost everything was gone, a response that felt like being given a second life. The dose was later reduced from 100 mg to 75 mg because of side effects, including weight gain, mood changes, neuropathy, and bloating. As of July 2025, Kathrin was responding well while continuing lifelong targeted therapy.