Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Ashley's Survivor Story
This lung cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Stage at diagnosis
- Stage IV
- Subtype
- Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
- Biomarkers
- No actionable driver biomarker identified; rare fusion reported
- Sex
- Female
- Spread to
- spine, hip/bone, chest cavity
- Treatment
- chemotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery and radiation
- Outcome
- Cancer-Free / NED
Treatment course, step by step
- Completed 4 rounds of chemotherapy
- Received immunotherapy every 3 weeks
- Early treatment included 5 radiation rounds to the spine
- After a second opinion, one lung was removed
- A small hip/bone lesion was treated with 5 radiation rounds
- Immunotherapy stopped after liver failure
- Later recurrence in the chest cavity and hip was treated with 3 weeks of radiation
- Clinical trials were discussed for the future but not started.
What happened, in summary
Ashley Vasallo was 36 when she shared her story, 2 years after being diagnosed with Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer. Before diagnosis, she had trouble swallowing, shortness of breath, stabbing chest pain, fatigue, vomiting, full-body swelling, clubbed fingers, and low exercise tolerance. Because she was young, active, and otherwise healthy, her symptoms were repeatedly attributed to anxiety, reflux, asthma, long COVID, and pneumonia.
After more than 20 medical visits, Ashley went to the ER and refused to leave without answers. Doctors found blood clots and finally ordered a CT scan, which revealed lung cancer. She did not have an actionable driver biomarker, although she described having a rare fusion. Treatment started with 4 rounds of chemotherapy, immunotherapy every 3 weeks, and 5 rounds of radiation to her spine. About 6 months in, scans were unclear, and she sought surgery even though it was not usually offered for her stage. After a second opinion, she had her lung removed.
Later, a small hip/bone lesion was treated with 5 radiation sessions. Immunotherapy had to stop after it caused liver failure. When small lesions appeared in the chest cavity and hip, she had 3 weeks of radiation. As of October 2024, her labs and scans were clear, and she was being scanned every 3 months.
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.