Via Leah Phillips, as advised to Janie McQueen

I used to be identified with lung most cancers in December 2019. I by no means even attempted a cigarette. I didn’t develop up round secondhand smoke. However in the beginning, sooner than I had biomarker checking out, docs advised me they was hoping I’d be alive at Christmas the next 12 months. 

In September 2019, it began with a cough that used to be power and didn’t cross away. Ultimately I used to be misdiagnosed with pneumonia. Then I went in for every other 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 identified me with level IV lung most cancers and used to be in a position to start out me on chemo and immunotherapy. In the meantime, my husband attached with Dr. Leora Horn at Vanderbilt College Clinical Heart via e-mail over Christmas damage. She mentioned, “Completely, don’t let her put one drug in her frame.” She sought after me to do biomarker checking out, and if I had been to start out chemo or immunotherapy, it might reason a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) drug remedy I would possibly take a look at as an alternative not to paintings. 

The Turning Level: Biomarker Checking out

The important thing turning level for us – my husband has been my spouse each step of the best way – used to be getting biomarker checking out. At large hospitals, that’s the very first thing they do. However many smaller hospitals, like the ones close to us, aren’t analysis pushed. You wish to have to get a 2d opinion and biomarker checking out. It’s your existence.

So mine got here again appearing 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 via limestone. Sure spaces of the rustic, like Colorado and Tennessee, have numerous limestone within the floor. It’s emitted day-to-day, however diluted within the air such a lot that it’s no longer a threat.

However there may also be prime radon publicity and radon poisoning emitted throughout the limestone that properties or constructions take a seat on. It could actually get trapped within the constructions, so that you breathe it in. It takes 5 to twenty-five years for the radon to damage the gene.

The EPA measures radon via pCi, aka picocurie or “pico” for brief. It’s the speed of radon’s radioactive decay. A degree 4 or beneath is deemed OK. But when, as an example, you might have a pico studying of 20 in your house, it’s the identical of smoking 40 cigarettes an afternoon. And even though that pico degree is prime, it’s no longer even tremendous prime.

I grew up in Kentucky, the place radon is prevalent. It’s ever converting. You truly must have radon examined each 2 to three years. In case your radon degree comes again prime, you’ll decide to have it mitigated. This implies you’ll have a fan positioned for your attic. Then a pipe sucks the radon out of your home and expels it, however helps to keep a continuing glide.

I may just attempt to hint again the place I used to be uncovered to radon, however my power is healthier spent shifting ahead with my remedy.

Focused Remedy a Luck

Focused treatment is one of those most cancers remedy. It zeroes in on proteins that direct the department, expansion, and unfold of most cancers cells. My physician at Vanderbilt prescribed Tagrisso (osimertinib mesylate), an authorized centered treatment for other folks with EGFR exon lung most cancers. 

How it works is, that gene is damaged, however centered treatment tips your frame into considering it’s nonetheless intact. From time to time the most cancers catches on that it’s no longer the actual deal and mutates.

I began on Tagrisso in December 2019. Via December 2020, the main tumor had contracted via 70% and all my bone mets — quick for metastases, or most cancers cells that experience unfold to the bones — had healed.

We made the verdict to be competitive and continue with 8 prime powered SBRT, aka stereotactic frame radiation treatment. This remedy makes use of tremendous centered, robust radiation doses that assault most cancers cells however aren’t as damaging to wholesome tissue. In principle, this killed any closing most cancers cells that had been found in my number one tumor. I’ve remained on Tagrisso and haven’t had any development.

My situation has remained strong, and not using a most cancers expansion. 

They are saying centered treatments like Tagrisso may also be efficient for two to three years sooner than it stops running. Smartly, it’s been nearly 3 years and it’s nonetheless running. Tagrisso is a brand new drug — it used to be authorized in 2018 — so truly the jury remains to be out on how lengthy it may well closing. I don’t assume the projections consider the whole well being of the individual, both. I’m very are compatible and energetic, a hectic mom of three, handiest 43 years outdated on the time of analysis and recently 46.

The Takeaway, So Some distance

I believe a significant plus for us on this adventure has been that we’re skilled other folks. We all know to not simply agree with what one physician says. We understand how to be our personal advocates. I used to be operating about 20 miles per week, and taking care of children ages 8, 12, and 13, when I used to be identified. I used to be like, “I will’t be completed right here.” I wasn’t prepared to take this “two years to reside” sentence. We briefly turned into our personal advocates as a result of we needed to be.

Lung most cancers is an overly lonely most cancers. The general public identified with it are older and feature smoked. The overall belief is, “You smoked. You probably did this to your self.” Smartly, for one, I don’t glance unwell. It’s an enormous stigma you don’t deserve. No different most cancers turns out as keeping apart. As an example, other folks empathize with you extra in case you have a situation like melanoma.

For the ones folks who’re more youthful – we make up 20% of lung most cancers diagnoses – we’re rolled in with everybody else. It kind of feels other folks don’t wish to commit power to analyze and investment up to different forms of most cancers. It is a laborious most cancers to have.

However we forge forward. We power 3 hours each 3 months from Louisville to peer those consultants. I handle a zeal for elevating consciousness that any one can get lung most cancers and for sharing what has labored for me.