Stage IV EGFR Lung Cancer: Leah's Patient Story

What happened, in summary

Leah Phillips, co-founder of the Young Lung Cancer Initiative, was diagnosed in December 2019 with Stage IV lung cancer carrying an EGFR exon 19 deletion. At diagnosis, her primary tumor was in the right middle lobe of the lung, and she had 13 bone metastases involving the pelvis, spine, and ribs. She started Tagrisso in December 2019 and was still taking it as of April 2025. In December 2020, she received 8 sessions of SBRT, a precise high-powered radiation treatment, to the primary lung tumor. Her treatment later included surgery, which made her perspective unusual among the young lung cancer patients discussing surgery in the video. In October 2024, Leah had a right middle lobe lobectomy at MD Anderson with Dr. Antinoff. She had to travel for the operation and fly to and from surgery, so part of her story focuses on the practical questions that come before lung surgery: who approves it, what questions to ask, and how to prepare. The generic drug name for Tagrisso was not stated, and she did not claim NED or cure in the available story. As of April 2025, Leah was living with Stage IV EGFR-mutated lung cancer after targeted therapy, SBRT, and lobectomy, while continuing Tagrisso.