Sydney B. Shares How Biomarker Testing Changed Her Future
I was diagnosed with lung cancer at the age of 33 when I was going through my medical internship.
One day I woke up feeling very tight on the left side of my chest and I decided to go to the emergency room that I worked in to get an X-ray. That x-ray showed that I had what they call a consolidation.
At the time of my diagnosis, I did not know about biomarker testing. When I went to my oncologist, she told me I had stage four lung cancer, that I do have a rearrangement or mutation called ALK. And that because of that I would not need to do chemotherapy or radiation. I would just need to take a targeted therapy that would aim at my cancer. My future would look so different if I did not have that test done.
Biomarker testing is particularly important for Black Americans for the fact that unfortunately we're not being tested as often as our white counterparts. And even generally, biomarker testing is still an underutilized test. For us to be able to benefit from these tests the outlook and the quality of life is so much different. We need to push for black Americans to know more about biomarkers and ask their doctors if they're diagnosed with lung cancer: Do I have a biomarker and how can I be tested for biomarkers?
Anyone who is diagnosed with lung cancer should be tested for a biomarker because we don't know if that could be something that changes someone's outcome but testing for biomarkers also tells us who would be a good candidate for immunotherapy as well. I was diagnosed in my intern year, which is very hectic. You are working 80-hour weeks and because of biomarker testing, I was able to take a pill that targets my cancer. I did not have to take any downtime. I was able to continue through my residency, be a chief resident, graduate on time and I'm still working full time, and this is eight years with living with stage four lung cancer.
I'm able to live an essentially normal life because of biomarkers and because of targeted therapy. I am an eight-year lung cancer survivor. I am doing everything in my life that I think that I would have done had I not been diagnosed with lung cancer. This is not the lung cancer of 25, 30 years ago. We have a lot of therapies; there's a lot of hope. If I could go back and tell pre or just diagnosed Sydney, I would tell her that she shouldn't worry. When I was first diagnosed, I was just like 33? That's it? I wasted all of these years in school? 33? Um, but I made it to 40. I celebrated in Bali and I'm looking forward to 50 and many more years. So, I would tell her not to worry.
John A Shares How Biomarker Testing Gave His Family Hope for the Future
John: I was doing great. I was physically fit, I had a great job, I was about to go back to school. But I ended up having a problem with my shoulder, you know, because what I did was very physical. I went to the doctor. And he took a CT scan of my shoulder. Come to find out, I had a mass in my left lung. My kids were doing great. I was being the best son, husband, father, brother, all that good stuff. But when I got sick, it changed things a great deal.
Stacy: We’re in this fight together. But we’re thankful for the biomarker testing. So thankful for that. Because that made the difference.
John: When I found out about biomarker testing, it was through my oncologist. She said, "John, you have what we call ROS1 lung cancer". If they hadn’t pinpointed just for my particular, my DNA, my genetic makeup that went hand in hand with that cancer and with that medication. I would not be here period.
Stacy: Biomarker Testing gave me hope because it was specific for the ROS1 gene that his oncologist said they found because of that test. And the biomarker that detected that gene? I’m so thankful. It saved his life. It saved his life. That’s all I can say.
John: It’s so important that as soon as you get diagnosed, ask that question: what about biomarker testing? What about other alternatives do I have? Can I get this test?
Stacy: There are so many new advancements in cancer research and the biomarker testing is one of those. Cancer changed our lives. That’s as simple as you can put it. Now our days are full of faith, strength, love, laughter, some tears. But more importantly, a testimony about support and survival.
Text: American Lung Association logo, To learn more visit Lung.org/beat-lung-cancer
What Is Biomarker Testing and Why Is it So Important?
Text: What is biomarker testing and why is it so important?
VO: Biomarker testing helps identify changes in a tumor’s DNA or protein levels to better help determine the most effective lung cancer treatment for you. Think of DNA like words in a book. When the words have typos, the sentences will then have different meanings. In our body, these changes can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and cancer. Biomarker testing can identify targeted treatments that could improve your quality of life and chances to beat lung cancer. Talk to your doctor about biomarker testing today.
Text: American Lung Association Logo, Learn more at Lung.org/beat-lung-cancer, 1-800-LUNGUSA
