By Jennifer C. King, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer

I’m an optimist at heart — to the point where my tween daughter just rolls her eyes at me whenever I tell her to have a more positive attitude.  Consequently, while it feels like all the news has been negative and COVID-19 related, I feel the need to reach out to all of you and point out that so many lung cancer advancements have taken place in the last month. We may feel the world has come to a screeching halt, but, in reality, lung cancer treatment options have exploded at the same time.

Testing, Testing, Testing

If you only have one take-away from this article, it should be that having your lung cancer tested is more critical than ever. Comprehensive biomarker testing – in simpler terms, testing for many different changes in the DNA or proteins of your cancer – is the key to making the right treatment choices.  In the past two weeks, we have had two entirely new classes of drugs called targeted therapies approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  The two new drugs are:

These join a large lineup of targeted therapy drugs that were already available to treat advanced lung cancers with changes in EGFR, ALK, ROS1, BRAF, and NTRK.

SEVEN. There are now seven different FDA-approved classes of targeted therapies, but use of these options depends on your cancer.  Checking if your cancer has just one of these gene changes should not be an option anymore. Testing for all of them, up-front, at time of diagnosis (and potentially again at points of progression or treatment changes) is the way to go.

What about me?

Although there are seven different targets, changes in some of them are quite rare. What if you don’t have any of these targetable changes? Or, if you have small cell lung cancer, which is known to have fewer targetable changes? In those cases, there were new FDA approvals that might be relevant for you too!

These announcements give those diagnosed with lung cancer more front-line options to consider and might allow for more time between treatments, which is particularly important at a time when you are trying to stay at home.

Informed Decisions

Along with testing, the other big take away is talking. Talk to your oncologist. Ask about your test results  and your treatment options and understand and why those options are being recommended. If you don’t like the answers, ask someone else by getting a second opinion.

Learn more about these topics by calling or emailing GO2 for Lung Cancer’s LungMATCH specialists (1-888-298-2436 or support@go2.org) who will talk to you about testing, your test results, possible treatment options, and questions to ask your doctor. Our specialists are experts in the different types of lung cancer therapies and can help walk you through the options suggested for you.

We are excited about the many new treatment options now available and want to make sure that you receive the treatment that is right for you and your lung cancer.

Though working remotely, our HelpLine team is here to offer free, one-on-one support through every step of your lung cancer journey. Submit a website form, email support@go2.org, or call 1-800-298-2436 to connect with a member of our professional support team today.