Stage IV EGFR Lung Cancer: Ivy's Survivor Story
This lung cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Stage at diagnosis
- Stage IV
- Biomarkers
- EGFR mutation
- Sex
- Female
- Spread to
- Bone: elbow, cervical spine/neck, rib, pelvis; brain
- Treatment
- biomarker testing, targeted therapy, surgery and surveillance
- Outcome
- Cancer-Free / NED
Treatment course, step by step
- Biopsy from an elbow/bone lesion and PET scan showed metastatic lung cancer from the upper right lung with bone spread
- Brain MRI later found small brain lesions
- Molecular testing showed an EGFR mutation
- EGFR-targeted oral therapy started before brain surgery or radiation; exact drug names were not stated
- Brain spots disappeared, bone areas improved, lung nodules disappeared, and the main lung tumor shrank but did not fully go away
- About 6 years later, possible growth only in the main lung tumor led to review; PET scan and lung/lymph-node scope testing found no active disease elsewhere
- Right upper lobectomy was done, and 1 year later she reported no evidence of disease.
What happened, in summary
Ivy E. was 47 when neck pain and trouble straightening her elbow led to an unexpected Stage IV lung cancer diagnosis. Doctors first thought the symptoms might be an overuse injury. Imaging of the elbow showed a mass involving the joint and bone. After surgery/biopsy showed carcinoma, a PET scan found an almost 3 cm mass in the upper right lung plus bone involvement, including the elbow, neck/cervical spine area, rib, and pelvis. She was told this was metastatic lung cancer. Molecular testing was sent automatically and showed an EGFR mutation. A brain MRI then found small brain lesions. Ivy met with neurosurgery and radiation oncology, but her thoracic oncologist recommended starting EGFR-targeted oral therapy first because it might shrink the tumors and avoid or delay brain-directed treatment. The specific targeted therapy names were not stated. The response was strong: brain metastases disappeared, bone areas improved, smaller lung nodules disappeared, and the main lung tumor shrank, though it did not fully go away. About 6 years after diagnosis, possible growth seemed limited to the primary lung tumor. After tumor board review, PET scan, and EBUS/bronchoscopy showed no active disease elsewhere, Ivy chose surgery instead of radiation. She had her upper right lung lobe removed. As of January 2024, 1 year later, she still reported no evidence of disease.
Where this story comes from
This is a lay summary of an account first published by The Patient Story. Read the original in full
How we source and attribute stories Accuracy and limitations
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. Read the full disclaimer