Gerald Green
ALK Patient
Dr. Stephanie Snow
Medical Oncologist, QEII Health Sciences Centre, & Professor of Medicine, Dalhousie University, & President, Lung Cancer Canada
Dr. Ken Culver
Research Director, ALK Positive Group
Perceived as a smoker’s disease, lung cancer is increasing among non-smokers with a specific gene mutation. New targeted therapies are improving outcomes.
In early 2019, Gerald Green, 58, of Stellarton, N.S., visited his doctor for a cough that wouldn’t go away. Suspecting pneumonia, his doctor ordered a chest X-ray. However, the results revealed something quite different—a tumour on his right lung. Follow-up biopsies confirmed that Green had a form of advanced, stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer that had spread to his lymph nodes, bones, hip, spine and one of his ribs. A lifelong non-smoker, Green was shocked at his diagnosis.
Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. About 32,000 Canadians are diagnosed with lung cancer each year and approximately 20,600 Canadians are expected to die from the disease this year.
The cancer subtype that Green was diagnosed with is defined by the presence of an anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) mutation. It occurs in approximately two to seven per cent of all lung cancers and is caused by a genetic mutation, that is not believed to be inherited. Most ALK-positive lung cancer patients are non-smokers, approximately 50 per cent are diagnosed before age 50 and about 90 per cent are diagnosed when the cancer has already spread.
Breaking the stigma
Because lung cancer is heavily associated with smoking, ALK-positive lung cancer patients are often perceived as having caused their disease and bear psychological and social stigma in addition to the burden of their diagnosis.
“Patients are more likely to feel isolated, to experience feelings of depression and anxiety, and to be less open to sharing their diagnosis and seeking out social supports, which is a very different reality to that of other cancers,” says Dr. Stephanie Snow, a medical oncologist at the QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax, a professor of medicine at Dalhousie University and President of Lung Cancer Canada.
Focusing on improving survival and quality of life
The development of therapies that specifically target ALK-positive lung cancer has brought about significant advancements in managing this type of cancer. Traditionally, ALK-positive lung cancer has been difficult to treat with conventional therapies. Prior to these new targeted therapies, patients diagnosed with late-stage ALK-positive lung cancer faced a prognosis of under a year. “Now, in responsive individuals, we are seeing survival rates in the double digits, with some people living 10 years or more,” says Dr. Snow.
It feels like I have my life back to a large degree and hope for the future.
Green is fortunate to be one of those patients. After Green experienced disease progression, where he lost 40 pounds and was told to get his affairs in order, he is now positive. “I feel good. My weight is back up, I’m active walking my dog every day and doing other forms of regular exercise and spending time with my wife and kids. It feels like I have my life back to a large degree and hope for the future,” he says.
With more funding for research around the ALK mutation, there can be more positive news on the horizon for treating people with this disease at an advanced stage. “There’s a large emphasis on fundraising to help patients get into clinical trials for new treatments,” says Dr. Ken Culver the research director at the ALK Positive Group, an international patient-driven organization. “With many ALK positive patients being younger individuals who are active in their careers and raising families, time is of the essence. We’re working to help patients have the best quality of life possible while also working to expedite research,” he says.
If you or someone you know is living with lung cancer, including ALK-positive lung cancer, learn more by visiting lungcancercanada.ca. Lung Cancer Canada is committed to supporting the lung cancer community, promoting early detection, advancing critical research, eliminating the stigma associated with lung cancer, and advocating for the change needed to ultimately conquer this devastating illness.
This article was made possible by the support of Pfizer Canada.
