NSCLC adenocarcinoma recently diagnosed

Posted by louanne62 @louanne62, Oct 15, 2022

April 2022 developed a cough that didn’t go away. Tested for Covid, treated for pneumonia, diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer in June. No known causes. Non smoker, no second hand smoke nothing. Healthy as can be. Began a targeted chemo drug July 13. No cough after 3 days. 69 days in, side effects on liver were concerning. Stopped drug for 3 weeks. Liver function returned to normal. CT scans at this point return tumor reduction from 4.2 cm to 1.1 with no spread to other organs, no adenopathy, and no mor glassy opacity on lung. Only had evidence of cancer in one lung. Still stage IV? Asymptomatic. Just restarting drug therapy after the three week break. Do I need a second opinion? I have zero symptoms of anything.

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Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Oct 15, 2022

Hello @louanne62 and welcome to Mayo Connect. I appreciate you sharing your cancer journey. It helps to share with others.

You seem to have some questions like, "'Still stage IV?" Is this a question you've asked your oncologist? If not, please do. You deserve as much information about your medical condition as you can get. An educated patient is better able to advocate for their own care.

Your second question, "Do I need a second opinion?" Please know that it is always a patient's right to seek a second opinion. If you do so, I would suggest that you do some research and find a specialist who is well-known and experienced with lung cancer. Do you live near a good cancer center or a university medical center?

Lisa, Volunteer Mentor | @lls8000 | Oct 16, 2022

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis. It seem that your oncologist hasn’t given you the info that you need. Are you comfortable asking them? A second opinion with an expert in the type of lung cancer that you have may be helpful.
Do you know which gene mutation is driving your cancer? The targeted therapy/ oral chemo can do a great job reducing and keeping the cancer under control sometimes for many years. In some cases is only used for stage IV patients. Generally, that means the cancer is inoperable and has spread past the lymph nodes in the chest. The targeted therapy is keeping the cancer under control and will likely be something that you’ll need to continue to take, as long as your liver can tolerate it.
Beast of luck starting the drug again!, take care.
Lisa, (stage IV, ALK positive, taking alectinib)