Julia T., ID

I was diagnosed with Stage 4A NSCLC in August 2019. My biopsy was adenocarcinoma with + EFGR and ROS1. I had a chest tube installed Sept 6 to drain plural fluid. I started Tagrisso in October 2019. Immediately after initiating the targeted chemo, the color of my drainage changed from deep thick red to pink and then clear. After 2 weeks of meds, I went from draining 1 liter of fluid every other day to draining 100 cc. Requiring a PTA lysis treatment 2-3 times per week until my lung recovered 90% inflation. My tumors were all in my pleura and all but one completely resolved by April 2020. In July 2020, 2 new tumors were found on CT. In August, my PET scan lit up 5 regions in the pleura. I underwent 30 sessions of radiation. My tumors diminished but suffered pneumonitis and pulmonary emboli.  By March 2021, they found 18 new tumors in my pleura and a lymph node. I currently am attempting immunotherapy in Mexico.