For the past decade I’ve loved running and in June of 2024, I ran my first Grandma’s Marathon – then in July of 2024 I developed a persistent dry cough. I had planned to run the Twin Cities Marathon but as the cough persisted, I had to drop out. After months of blood tests, rounds of antibiotics, a bronchoscopy, and a biopsy, in November I was diagnosed with a rare form of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) call ALK+. This was a huge shock to myself and my doctors as I am a never-smoker. My family and friends were so supportive during this scary time, and I am so grateful to them.
Like 90% of ALK+ patients, my cancer has spread to my spine and lymph nodes. It is incurable and inoperable. But there is hope! I am fortunate that a new drug specifically targeting the ALK gene mutation was released JUST IN 2024 and is fighting my cancer! I am so grateful for this treatment and feel so fortunate to benefit from this recent advancement. The hope is more research will continue to result in treatments targeting the ALK mutation so my cancer can be treated like any other chronic disease.
I am happy to say I am running again and looking forward to seeing my three young children grow up thanks to my ALK inhibitor. I hope research will advance so that when I inevitably become immune to this amazing medicine there will be an alternative for me to receive. Please donate to advance this research and help my future happen!!
About ALK+ Lung Cancer from alkpositive.org: “ALK-positive cancer” refers to the rearrangement of the EML4 gene and the ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase)gene in your DNA, resulting in a fusion oncogene EML4-ALK. An oncogene is a gene that is a mutated and may cause cancer cells. If you have cancer with an “ALK rearrangement”, part of your ALK gene is mutated, resulting in uncontrolled cell replication- cancer.” It is not a hereditary mutation and we do not know why the rearrangement happens. ALK-positive lung cancer occurs in approximately 5% of all lung cancer patients. However, it occurs in approximately 30% of lung cancer patients diagnosed under age 40!
Go to https://www.alkpositive.org for more information