Stage IV EGFR Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Rhonda's Patient Story
This lung cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Stage at diagnosis
- Stage IV
- Subtype
- Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
- Biomarkers
- EGFR-positive mutation
- Sex
- Female
- Spread to
- Brain; spine; hip bone; lymph nodes; cerebrospinal fluid/leptomeningeal involvement
- Treatment
- radiation, immunotherapy and targeted therapy
- Outcome
- In Memory
Treatment course, step by step
- March 2018 diagnosis was followed by whole-brain radiation
- Received 1 round of immunotherapy while waiting for biopsy results
- After EGFR mutation was confirmed, started daily osimertinib/Tagrisso
- Early 2020 radiation treated a midhilar lymph node
- July 2021 testing found active cancer cells in the fluid around the brain and spinal cord
- Tagrisso daily dose was doubled.
What happened, in summary
Rhonda Martin was diagnosed in March 2018 with Stage IV non-small cell adenocarcinoma lung cancer. At diagnosis, the cancer had already spread to her brain, spine, hip bone, and lymph nodes. Her first treatment was whole brain radiation. While biopsy results were pending, she received 1 round of immunotherapy. The biopsy then confirmed an EGFR-positive mutation, and Rhonda switched to daily osimertinib, also named Tagrisso in the story. She described the targeted therapy as allowing her to keep living with relatively few challenges for a long stretch. In early 2020, she needed another round of radiation, this time to a midhilar lymph node. In July 2021, the daily Tagrisso dose was doubled after active cancer cells were found in her cerebrospinal fluid, a condition described as leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. Despite Stage IV disease, Rhonda continued long walks, hiking, kayaking, baking, travel, fundraising, and advocacy. Her husband attended every appointment and provided steady support at home. Rhonda passed away on January 9, 2023 from complications caused by Stage IV lung cancer. Rhonda’s story remains an in-memory story, with treatment details specific to radiation, immunotherapy, and Tagrisso.
Where this story comes from
This is a lay summary of an account first published by Lung Cancer Research Foundation. 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