Stage IV EGFR Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Ashley's Patient Story
This lung cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Stage at diagnosis
- Stage IV
- Subtype
- Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
- Biomarkers
- EGFR T790M mutation
- Sex
- Female
- Spread to
- Both lungs / bilateral lung nodules
- Treatment
- targeted therapy
- Outcome
- Living With Cancer
Treatment course, step by step
- Biomarker testing found EGFR T790M
- Started daily Tagrisso targeted therapy
- Stayed on the same drug for 43 months with stable CT scans every 4 months and bloodwork every 2 months
- Side effects included fatigue, early rash, stomach/GI flares, nausea, and need for hydration
- Surgery was not used because both lungs had many nodules, and no infusion chemotherapy was reported.
What happened, in summary
Ashley had no symptoms when lung cancer was found by chance. She went to the hospital for a gynecologic issue, and CT imaging showed lung nodules. Pathology was sent to Mayo Clinic, and about 1 week later she learned it was non-small cell lung cancer. Both lungs had numerous nodules, but she was told it was not anywhere else in her body. Because there were so many nodules in both lungs, surgery would not help; she was inoperable from the start. Her oncologist ordered biomarker testing and walked her through possible treatment paths. The result showed an EGFR T790M mutation, which made daily oral targeted therapy possible. Ashley started Tagrisso, taken by mouth once a day. She remembers feeling grateful that the treatment could target the mutation and let her avoid infusion chemotherapy at that point. Side effects still affected daily life. Early on, she felt heavy and worn down, developed a skin rash that later improved, and had GI flares, nausea or upset stomach, and overwhelming fatigue. Hydration became important, especially before labs. As of March 2024, Ashley had been on the same drug for 43 months, with bloodwork every 2 months and CT scans every 4 months showing stable disease. She described the cancer as a chronic disease and looked to lung-cancer support groups for hope.
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.