What happened, in summary

Laura, from Camden, South Carolina, was in her late 30s when she was diagnosed in May 2023 with Stage IV ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer. The earliest warning sign was a cough that lasted almost a year. It was mild and mostly in the morning, so it did not feel urgent. Fatigue slowly increased, and she also had joint pain that was treated like possible arthritis despite her age. At an annual visit, her doctor ordered a chest X-ray. What looked like a tiny nodule led to a CT scan that showed a 6 cm lung mass. Laura was quickly connected with pulmonology and oncology care through the VA and MUSC system. Genetic testing brought some hope because the cancer was ALK-positive, making targeted therapy possible. She started a first-line ALK TKI and stayed on it for about 1 year, but the side effects wore her down physically and mentally. After a break, growth appeared again. She then entered a clinical trial for a newer targeted drug, but her liver could not tolerate it, so she had to stop. About 1 month before the video, she started a third TKI. As of November 2025, Laura was living with cancer, having CT scans every 3 months, and weighing treatment choices around quality of life.