I had 3 months to live with Stage 4 Lung cancer

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Phil was an active 60-year-old living outside Austin, Texas, working as a Fortune 500 corporate executive. He and his wife had built a life centered around their three daughters, with the long-term dream of seeing all of them attend the University of Texas at Austin—a dream that came true. Their eldest daughter was pursuing a doctorate, and their twin daughters were also in college.

About a year before his diagnosis, Phil began experiencing a persistent cough after a trip to Manila. At first, he assumed it was his usual post-travel sinus infection. A doctor prescribed antibiotics, but the cough didn’t go away. After several rounds of treatment with no improvement, a chest X-ray suggested pneumonia, and doctors ordered a CT scan due to his family history of lung cancer.

Phil’s father had died of lung cancer, though he had been a long-term smoker. Phil himself had only smoked once in his life, but the concern was enough to move forward with further testing. Around this time, it was also March 2020, the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, which further delayed his care. Although he tested negative for COVID, he ended up waiting eight months for a lung biopsy.

When the biopsy results finally came back, he was told he had cancer. The diagnosis was stage 4 lung cancer. His doctors recommended an aggressive treatment plan: chemotherapy, radiation, and eventual lung removal. When Phil asked what they would do if they were in his position, the doctor told him he would go home and get his affairs in order. He was told his life expectancy could be as short as 3 to 4 months without effective treatment.

Devastated, Phil sought a second opinion at UT Southwestern. There, a surgeon immediately recognized the severity and progression of the disease. The oncologist, Dr. Ben Drapkin, explained that the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes near his heart and to his other lung. Surgery and radiation were no longer viable options at that point due to location and spread.

Instead, the medical team recommended testing for genetic mutations and starting chemotherapy immediately to slow the disease. He was told bluntly that without intervention, he would likely die within 3 to 4 months. When asked about survival statistics, he was told that stage 4 metastatic lung cancer had a very low long-term survival rate, with only about a 5–7% chance of living five years. Phil responded to his wife that if he made it five years, they would celebrate in Tahiti.

After two rounds of chemotherapy, testing revealed that Phil had a ROS1 mutation. This meant he could switch to a targeted oral therapy designed specifically for his cancer type. His doctor explained that while the treatment was not a cure, it could control and slow the disease, and some patients remained stable for years. However, resistance often developed over time.

Phil began the targeted therapy, which was extremely expensive, but covered by insurance. The medication initially worked well, and he experienced stability for about two years before signs of progression appeared.

When the drug stopped being effective, Phil underwent radiation and explored next options. One alternative was an FDA-approved drug with harsher side effects that might interfere with his quality of life. Another option was a clinical trial in Boston at Massachusetts General Hospital under Dr. Jessica Lin, which offered a treatment thought to better match his active lifestyle. Phil chose the clinical trial.

The trial required frequent travel to Boston at first, gradually reducing to monthly visits. During this period, Phil experienced weight gain, which he initially attributed to the medication, but later realized was largely due to lifestyle changes from constant travel and hotel stays.

Over time, he transitioned to visits every three months, continuing on the trial medication as long as there was no progression.

Despite living with cancer, Phil made a conscious decision to focus on life rather than limitation. He and his wife continued to travel and plan for the future. At the five-year mark, they celebrated with an 18-day cruise to Tahiti, visiting multiple islands, including the Marquesas, and continuing on to Hawaii and Los Angeles. The trip also coincided with their 25th wedding anniversary, making it especially meaningful.

On the return flight, Phil had a chance encounter with his original oncologist, Dr. Drapkin, who had saved his life years earlier. The emotional reunion ended in an embrace in the airplane aisle.

Phil also experienced a deeply personal full-circle moment when his daughter’s doctoral graduation approached. She asked whether Dr. Drapkin could hood her at the ceremony. Remarkably, Dr. Drapkin agreed, reconnecting the doctor’s impact on Phil’s life with his daughter’s milestone.

Today, Phil continues on clinical trial therapy. He acknowledges that the cancer is still present and will eventually take its course, but it no longer defines his outlook. He lives with ongoing monitoring and uncertainty, but also with gratitude and forward-looking goals.

He and his wife continue making plans for the future, including more travel—such as a Panama Canal cruise and trips across Asia. More importantly, he focuses on seeing his daughters continue their education and begin their professional lives.

Phil reflects that five years earlier, he was told he might have only months to live. Instead, he has lived long enough to see his children thrive, travel the world, and build a future he once thought he would never witness. For him, the journey has become one of perspective, resilience, and gratitude: he feels he has been given more than he ever expected.