Question: I recently received a stage 4 (IV) lung cancer diagnosis. How do I stay optimistic about the future?  

(Answered by Shane Dormady, MD, Hematology & Oncology, El Camino Hospital Cancer Center, during his appearance at the October 2024 Lung Cancer Living Room. It has been edited for this use.)

Answer: Many people diagnosed with lung cancer, even those who are otherwise rational people, say that the second they learn they have lung cancer, logic goes out the window, and they are overcome with emotion. This is completely normal.

One of my favorite things to tell people who have lung cancer is that in this day and age, I don’t want you to think about this as a stage 4 (IV) diagnosis. Instead, I want you to think of this like you have a chronic medical problem like hypertension or diabetes. Just like those medical problems, if we find the right medications for you based on the sequencing of your personal tumor cells, then we can keep the cancer controlled long term, just like high blood pressure or diabetes. I find that when patients grasp that message, they can realize that the ceiling’s not caving in completely, and that they have a lot of options and can start making plans for the future.

I’m struck when I meet patients who have previously gone to see a medical oncologist – sometimes even at very big academic centers – and the oncologists have been nihilistic and negative. I have never understood that. Academic centers in particular are the places where we should be bending the rules, thinking outside the box, and saying, “We have some interesting things going on, we’re on the cutting edge of research. Let’s have hope.”

That’s the key – always understanding that even though you may have an advanced disease, you should try not to panic. Do the molecular profiling, turn your disease into diabetes, and let’s see what we can do. Keep a positive attitude.

I always tell patients that there are 2 parts to the equation. I must devise the right treatment plan for you, but you have your part of the equation too. I can’t be working harder to save your life than you are.

Please note that the information included in any published answer is for educational pursuit only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult their healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Nothing from GO2 for Lung Cancer should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a medical opinion.