The concern is always that there are cancer cells somewhere else in the body that just haven't grown large enough to be detected. That's a serious concern for me after my lung cancer metastasized to my brain. That metastasis "only" affected some of my muscles, but if the cancer came back in a random part of the brain, it could be much worse.

My doctors can tell it's working by the fact that I haven't had a recurrence anywhere else! I'm up to 3 1/2 years, and I know someone else on Tagrisso who is 7 years past detection. I hope your husband goes at least as long!

I'm still getting tested every 3 months. Do you know your husband's schedule?

Welcome to Mayo Connect @maggieoakdavis. Wishing your husband a long run on Tagrisso! I take a different targeted therapy for a different mutation, and I have scans ever 3-4 months. Does your husband have regularly scheduled scans, CT or PET?

@maggieoakdavis, I've replied privately, but others may benefit from my response. When there has already been metastasis, the concern is that there are still cancer cells out there that are too small to be detected. Tagrisso is prescribed to kill those cells. In addition, chemotherapy does not cross the blood/brain barrier, while Tagrisso does.

My lung cancer might not have metastasized to my brain if I'd been put on Tagrisso after my lobectomy. However, in 2018, Tagrisso had not yet been approved as a first-line treatment. Your husband is proof that the policy has changed!