What happened, in summary

This unnamed woman’s lung cancer journey began with leg swelling. She first received water-reducing medication, but the swelling continued and eventually involved more of her body. Doctors became concerned about her heart, found fluid around the heart area, and arranged further imaging. A CT scan showed a suspicious lung lesion, and she was told to return for tissue sampling. Plans changed quickly when cancer markers suggested a tumor problem, and she was referred to oncology. The diagnosis was Stage IV EGFR-mutated lung cancer. Targeted therapy is central to the story, but the specific EGFR drug is not named. Doctors discussed first-generation and third-generation targeted options. Because the tumor was near the heart, radiation was discussed as something that might be arranged later if the tumor became smaller, but completed radiation was not reported. She chose or started first-generation targeted therapy on 5 March and had been taking it for about 3 months by the interview. Side effects appeared quickly, including acne-like sores, itching, mouth sores, and other skin symptoms. Her doctors provided supportive medicines and creams, and she also used Chinese medicine for symptom support. As of November 2025, she was still in active care and learning to live with Stage IV EGFR-mutated lung cancer.