By Leah Phillips, as advised to Janie McQueen
I used to be recognized with lung most cancers in December 2019. I by no means even tried a cigarette. I didn’t develop up round secondhand smoke. However at first, earlier than I had biomarker testing, medical doctors advised me they hoped I’d be alive at Christmas the next yr.
In September 2019, it began with a cough that was persistent and didn’t go away. Ultimately I used to be misdiagnosed with pneumonia. Then I went in for an additional CT scan and it confirmed lytic lesions — most cancers spots — in my backbone. A bone biopsy confirmed they’d unfold from my lung to my backbone and pelvis.
The oncologist recognized me with stage IV lung most cancers and was prepared to begin me on chemo and immunotherapy. In the meantime, my husband linked with Dr. Leora Horn at Vanderbilt College Medical Heart by electronic mail over Christmas break. She mentioned, “Completely, don’t let her put one drug in her physique.” She needed me to do biomarker testing, and if I had been to begin chemo or immunotherapy, it may trigger a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) drug therapy I would attempt as an alternative to not work.
The Turning Level: Biomarker Testing
The important thing turning level for us – my husband has been my accomplice each step of the way in which – was getting biomarker testing. At massive hospitals, that’s the very first thing they do. However many smaller hospitals, like these close to us, aren’t analysis pushed. You’ll want to get a second opinion and biomarker testing. It’s your life.
So mine got here again displaying a genetic mutation referred to as an EGFR exon 19 deletion. What breaks that gene and permits lung most cancers to develop? Radon publicity.
What’s Radon?
Radon is an odorless, tasteless gasoline emitted by limestone. Sure areas of the nation, like Colorado and Tennessee, have plenty of limestone within the floor. It’s emitted each day, however diluted within the air a lot that it’s not a hazard.
However there may be excessive radon publicity and radon poisoning emitted by the limestone that homes or buildings sit on. It will possibly get trapped within the constructions, so that you breathe it in. It takes 5 to 25 years for the radon to interrupt the gene.
The EPA measures radon by pCi, aka picocurie or “pico” for brief. It’s the speed of radon’s radioactive decay. A stage 4 or under is deemed OK. But when, for instance, you’ve gotten a pico studying of 20 in your house, it’s the equal of smoking 40 cigarettes a day. And although that pico stage is excessive, it’s not even tremendous excessive.
I grew up in Kentucky, the place radon is prevalent. It’s ever altering. You actually must have radon examined each 2 to three years. In case your radon stage comes again excessive, you may decide to have it mitigated. This implies you may have a fan positioned in your attic. Then a pipe sucks the radon out of your home and expels it, however retains a continuing circulate.
I may attempt to hint again the place I used to be uncovered to radon, however my power is healthier spent shifting ahead with my therapy.
Focused Remedy a Success
Focused remedy is a sort of most cancers therapy. It zeroes in on proteins that direct the division, progress, and unfold of most cancers cells. My physician at Vanderbilt prescribed Tagrisso (osimertinib mesylate), an authorized focused remedy for individuals with EGFR exon lung most cancers.
The way in which it really works is, that gene is damaged, however focused remedy tips your physique into considering it’s nonetheless intact. Typically the most cancers catches on that it’s not the true deal and mutates.
I began on Tagrisso in December 2019. By December 2020, the first tumor had shrunk by 70% and all my bone mets — quick for metastases, or most cancers cells which have unfold to the bones — had healed.
We made the choice to be aggressive and proceed with eight excessive powered SBRT, aka stereotactic physique radiation remedy. This therapy makes use of tremendous targeted, sturdy radiation doses that assault most cancers cells however aren’t as dangerous to wholesome tissue. In concept, this killed any remaining most cancers cells that had been current in my major tumor. I’ve remained on Tagrisso and haven’t had any development.
My situation has remained steady, with no most cancers progress.
They are saying focused therapies like Tagrisso may be efficient for two to three years earlier than it stops working. Effectively, it’s been virtually 3 years and it’s nonetheless working. Tagrisso is a brand new drug — it was authorized in 2018 — so actually the jury remains to be out on how lengthy it may final. I don’t suppose the projections bear in mind the general well being of the particular person, both. I’m very match and lively, a busy mom of three, solely 43 years previous on the time of analysis and presently 46.
The Takeaway, So Far
I believe a serious plus for us on this journey has been that we’re educated individuals. We all know to not simply belief what one physician says. We all know how you can be our personal advocates. I used to be operating about 20 miles every week, and caring for youths ages 8, 12, and 13, once I was recognized. I used to be like, “I can’t be performed right here.” I wasn’t prepared to take this “two years to reside” sentence. We rapidly turned our personal advocates as a result of we needed to be.
Lung most cancers is a really lonely most cancers. Most individuals recognized with it are older and have smoked. The final notion is, “You smoked. You probably did this to your self.” Effectively, for one, I don’t look sick. It’s an enormous stigma you don’t deserve. No different most cancers appears as isolating. For instance, individuals empathize with you extra in case you have a situation like melanoma.
For these of us who’re youthful – we make up 20% of lung most cancers diagnoses – we’re rolled in with everybody else. It appears individuals don’t need to commit power to analysis and funding as a lot as different kinds of most cancers. This can be a laborious most cancers to have.
However we forge forward. We drive 3 hours each 3 months from Louisville to see these specialists. I keep a ardour for elevating consciousness that anybody can get lung most cancers and for sharing what has labored for me.
