Can targeted therapy cure my sister’s lung cancer at 32?
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
My 32 year old sister was diagnosed with EGFR positive lung adenocarcinoma after experiencing a persistent cough and mild chest pain. Genetic test of the tumour showed an EGFR mutation and the doctors decided to go for targeted therapy instead of the traditional chemotherapy. She has recently been started on oral targeted medication and her scans show disease limited to the lung and regional lymph nodes. Tell me, please,
- Is targeted therapy curative for EGFR positive lung cancer?
- Does it kind of keep the disease under control for a while?
- How long do these medications usually last for patients?
Kindly help.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I read your query and can understand your concern.
I do I have read your question and understand your concern.
I know this situation has many questions for you and your family. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) –positive lung adenocarcinoma is a kind of lung cancer in which the tumour cells have a specific genetic change called an EGFR mutation. The important thing about finding this mutation is that there are medicines that are designed to specifically block this abnormal signal that allows the cancer cells to grow. That is why if the mutation is present doctors tend to prefer targeted therapy over traditional chemotherapy.
The targeted therapy of the EGFR-positive lung cancer is usually palliative and not curative. These medicines help to slow down or stop the growth of the cancer cells. For many patients these medicines can shrink the tumour or keep it stable for a long time. This is why they are often the first line of therapy once the mutation is identified.
The length of response varies from person to person but many patients respond well for a fairly long period. Today, with the newer EGFR-targeted medicines, many patients get to have good control of the disease for a couple of years. Some patients do well even longer with good follow-up and treatment adjustments when necessary.
From my experience with patients with similar conditions, particularly younger patients with EGFR-positive tumours, many of them tolerate these oral medications well, and they can continue their routine life while the treatment keeps the disease in check. It’s important that your sister gets regular follow-up scans so the treating team can monitor how well the medication is working.
I hope this helps you with the information.
Feel free to ask further queries.
Thank you.
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