What happened, in summary

Joanne Sabol was 65 when a lump in her neck led to imaging and a biopsy in July 2005. She was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer and was initially told that palliative care was her only option. Joanne sought a second opinion at Memorial Sloan Kettering, where she received chemotherapy and radiation. The treatment put her cancer into remission.

Six years later, while recovering from treatment for a separate breast cancer, a PET scan showed that her lung cancer had returned and spread to her abdomen. Surgery was not an option. In 2013, Joanne began pembrolizumab immunotherapy. She experienced significant muscle and joint pain, but the treatment produced a strong response. More than 2 years after starting pembrolizumab, her tumor had shrunk by 81%.

Joanne later learned that some lymph nodes might still contain cancer, but the finding was uncertain and her care team expected the broader response to immunotherapy to continue. Eleven years after her original diagnosis, she remained active, working and spending time with her 10 grandchildren. She described feeling fantastic and found meaning in supporting other families affected by cancer.