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Anyone out there living with stage 4 lung cancer?

Lung Cancer | Last Active: Sep 24, 2023 | Replies (143)
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@jannad

Yes they do, be sure you get genomic testing done as it can make a big difference not in diagnosis but in treatment options which can prolong life.

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Replies to "Yes they do, be sure you get genomic testing done as it can make a big..."
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Nov 4, 2021

Biomarker testing is a way to look for genes, proteins, and other substances (called biomarkers or tumor markers) that can provide information about cancer. Each person's cancer has a unique pattern of biomarkers. Some biomarkers affect how certain cancer treatments work.

The biomarkers you are tested for will depend on the stage of your non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Some common biomarkers you may hear about are ALK, BRAF, EGFR, HER2, KRAS, MET exon 14 skipping, NTRK, RET, and ROS1, or proteins such as PD-L1.1

Here is a great site to look at: https://www.lungevity.org/noonemissed

I don't have a science background so I can't explain this any more than what I have described. Each person's genetic makeup is different and so will your cancer be. Even if you have the biomarker and the same type of lung cancer you might be treated in a different way because your biomarker will be different. So it's important to be tested and give yourself the best chances you can for survival and wellness.

My cancer is unusual and so far my treatments haven't called for using my Braf marker and TP53. But at least it's in my record in case it's needed in the future. I still don't know how they have affected my cancer or what could be used in the future.

Does anyone else know what their marker (s) is and how it affects their cancer and treatment?

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