How Biomarker Testing Shaped My Treatment Plan

When I was first diagnosed with lung cancer, I felt completely lost. It was like my whole world turned upside down in an instant. I knew nothing about lung cancer—how I even got it, what it meant, or what to expect. The shock was overwhelming, and it was hard to process the news. So many questions ran through my mind, and it felt like most of them couldn't be answered. It was a terrifying feeling, not knowing what the future held or how much time I had left.

Searching for information

My husband and I quickly realized we needed more information. He went on the internet, diving deep into research about lung cancer, trying to make sense of it all. That's when he first learned about biomarker testing. It was a new term for us, but the idea that this could help guide my treatment gave us some direction.

Finding some optimism

When we went to my first appointment at the cancer center, I was relieved to find that they were already familiar with biomarker testing and brought it up before we even mentioned it. The doctor explained how it could be a crucial part of determining the best treatment plan for me, and that gave me a sense of hope I desperately needed. The idea of taking a daily pill and potentially prolonging my life by treating lung cancer as more of a chronic illness gave me something to hold on to and some optimism in the middle of so much uncertainty. For the first time since my diagnosis, I felt a small glimmer of control over my future.

When I found out I was ALK Positive after my biomarker testing, it felt like I had hit the jackpot. I was so relieved because there were already targeted therapies available specifically for ALK Positive lung cancer. Even better, there were others being tested in clinical trials. Knowing this was a huge weight off my shoulders, I knew that these targeted treatments could buy me more time, and it gave me a renewed sense of hope. Almost 10 years later, there are even more targeted therapies available for ALK Positive patients, with new treatments still in clinical trials and others on the horizon. It's an incredibly promising time for people like me, and it feels like the research community is continually advancing, making things brighter for ALK Positive patients.

Everyone should get biomarker testing

Now that I focus on advocacy for lung cancer, biomarker testing has become one of my biggest passions. I highly recommend that every newly diagnosed lung cancer patient get tested, it can completely change the trajectory of their treatment and give them hope for a longer, more manageable life. I also encourage medical professionals across all specialties to educate themselves on biomarker testing. It’s such a powerful tool, and it can genuinely transform the lives of lung cancer patients in ways that traditional treatments often can't.