Stage IV EGFR Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Anne's Patient Story
This lung cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Stage at diagnosis
- Stage IV
- Subtype
- Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
- Biomarkers
- EGFR-mutated; several additional mutations mentioned but not specified
- Sex
- Female
- Spread to
- Spine; liver; lymph nodes
- Treatment
- targeted therapy, radiation and a clinical trial
- Outcome
- Responding Well
Treatment course, step by step
- Started Tagrisso on September 18, 2020, plus palliative radiation for pain
- Symptoms improved a lot by late November
- After progression around 7 months, received 5 radiation doses to the right upper-lung tumor and 2 spine spots
- Entered a JNJ clinical trial with weekly infusions and 3 daily tablets; tablet name was unclear
- Early trial course included an infusion reaction, then better tolerance, less tumor burden, and major pain relief.
What happened, in summary
Anne Laporte, a nurse for about 35 years and an endurance athlete, had a lung nodule followed years earlier and then dismissed because she was a lifelong nonsmoker. Years later, progressive back pain was treated as a sports injury through multiple doctor and emergency-room visits. By the time an MRI was finally done, it showed advanced metastatic cancer throughout her spine. She was diagnosed with Stage IVB non-small cell lung cancer. The primary tumor in the right upper lobe was about 1.4 cm, but cancer had spread through the spine, liver, and lymph nodes. Next-generation sequencing through a blood test showed a large amount of EGFR mutation and other mutations, making targeted therapy central to her care. Anne started Tagrisso on September 18, 2020, along with palliative radiation to help pain. By late November, she felt almost 100% better and could ski, run, and bike again. Side effects included rash and diarrhea. Progression appeared around 7 months, with activity in the lung tumor and spine spots. Her team treated those areas with 5 radiation doses, then moved her into a JNJ clinical trial using weekly infusions plus 3 daily tablets. As of March 2024, early trial testing showed decreased tumor burden, and Anne described being pain-free after starting the trial.
Where this story comes from
This is a lay summary of an account first published by The Patient Story. Read the original in full
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.