In 2022, shortly after the covid-19 pandemic safety measures were lifted, Jung A was diagnosed with stage 3 non-small cell lung cancer. The pandemic had already put a lot of stress on her family’s business, so adding a cancer diagnosis was another traumatic disruption to the family dynamic.
Cancer research saved my life; we are in the middle of great discoveries. We have to keep investing so more lives can be saved and ensure better treatment options for all patients.
At the time, Jung A was also working fulltime and was the primary caregiver to three Korean American seniors and the mother to two adult children. Her husband couldn’t take time off from work to take her to appointments and her parents and in-law didn’t know the route into Boston.
Luckily, Jung A had an oncologist who was a pioneer in biomarker and genetic research. She learned that many non-smoking women with lung cancer from East Asia had a common mutation referred to as EGFR. So, a simple, routine blood test was all that was needed to get the rapid comprehensive biomarker testing to screen for this mutation as well as 74 other genetic changes for which there are known treatments.
Ultimately, Jung A did not have an EGFR mutation; she has a very rare arrangement called ALK that affects approximately 5% of lung cancer patients. ALK positive patients are matched with an FDA-approved oral medication as the best first line of treatment. These pills targeted and shrank her tumor in half with little side effects. Thankfully, the combination of oral medication and other modalities of treatment have allowed her to live a high quality of life with dignity and independence.
Due to the many advances in cancer research, Jung A is not a typical stage 3 lung cancer patient. Today, she remains cancer free and continues to live a normal life. She uses her voice to advocate for further cancer research so more people can survive and live well after cancer.