Lingering Cough Led To Stage 4 Lung Cancer! - Shauna | Stage 4 Lung Cancer | The Patient Story
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2026 5:12 am
Hi, my name is Shauna. I felt like my future was gone after my diagnosis. I had been in the best shape of my life, my two kids had just left home, and my husband and I were both working full time. I had no family history of cancer, had never smoked, and I lived a healthy lifestyle with exercise and good eating habits.
In the fall of 2018, I had what seemed like a normal respiratory cold, but my cough never went away. Months later, I took my lunch break to visit an urgent care clinic, where an X-ray revealed a mass in my right lung. The staff there told me I needed to see a pulmonologist, and I returned to work completely shocked.
After connecting with a pulmonologist, I was scheduled for a needle biopsy along with additional scans, including a PET scan, chest CT, abdominal scan, and MRI of the brain. The biopsy confirmed cancer. It was later determined that the cancer had spread to both lungs, which made it stage four. I had a primary tumor in my right lung and numerous small nodules in both lungs.
At the time of my diagnosis, I had just turned 51. I was living in a rural area in Indiana, far from major medical centers, so I began treatment with a local pulmonologist and oncologist. I also joined a Facebook group for ALK-positive lung cancer, which provided a lot of education and support. That group encouraged me to seek second opinions, including from specialists in Nashville and at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
For the first five years, I stayed with my local oncologist because the care was consistent with standard treatment and convenient. Later, I transitioned to a larger hospital in Indianapolis for access to clinical trials and more advanced care. My current oncologist also helped confirm my diagnosis and guide treatment decisions. Within weeks of diagnosis, testing revealed I was ALK positive, which is a genetic mutation often seen in younger lung cancer patients.
I was immediately started on a targeted therapy drug, known as a TKI. At the beginning, I experienced serious side effects, including bradycardia and pneumonitis. My oncologist adjusted my dosage, and I eventually found that a lower dose was still effective while reducing side effects. Over time, my tumor shrank by about 40%, and I remained stable for years. Eventually, I was even able to return to a full dose without the earlier complications.
After about five years on the first medication, I began to see new growth in some lung nodules. I underwent radiation therapy to target those areas while continuing the same medication. This happened again about a year later. Eventually, after additional small areas of growth appeared, it became clear that it was time to switch treatments to a newer drug.
I started the new TKI about a year ago and have been stable since then. Some scans have been uncertain, but my most recent scan showed stability. Overall, I have tolerated both medications well. Earlier side effects included bloating, constipation, and sensitivity, while the current medication causes some mild neuropathy and tingling in my hands, which has mostly subsided. I have also had more energy and less weight gain on this newer treatment.
Managing side effects has been part of my journey. I learned to take precautions like wearing sunscreen, protective clothing, and a hat to avoid sun sensitivity, and I found ways to manage constipation and other symptoms. Despite everything, I focus on the fact that the treatment is working, which is the most important thing.
I recently attended a conference in San Diego focused on ALK-positive lung cancer, where doctors and patients discussed clinical trials and new treatments. I learned how important clinical trials are for developing better therapies and how they help move treatment forward for others in the future. While I am not currently seeking a clinical trial, it is something I may consider down the road.
Living with cancer has changed my perspective on life. I feel especially for younger patients and parents with children still at home. I am grateful that I was able to raise my children and now have seven grandchildren, many of whom I have been able to meet since my diagnosis.
My faith plays an important role in how I cope. I focus on living each day fully, being kind, and spending time with family and friends. I have a small group of people I rely on deeply, including my husband, my two daughters, my sister, and my mother.
I’ve learned not to live in fear. It took me about two years after my diagnosis to reach a point where I decided not to worry every day and instead live as if I have all the time in the world. Life is short, and I choose to make the most of it.
In the fall of 2018, I had what seemed like a normal respiratory cold, but my cough never went away. Months later, I took my lunch break to visit an urgent care clinic, where an X-ray revealed a mass in my right lung. The staff there told me I needed to see a pulmonologist, and I returned to work completely shocked.
After connecting with a pulmonologist, I was scheduled for a needle biopsy along with additional scans, including a PET scan, chest CT, abdominal scan, and MRI of the brain. The biopsy confirmed cancer. It was later determined that the cancer had spread to both lungs, which made it stage four. I had a primary tumor in my right lung and numerous small nodules in both lungs.
At the time of my diagnosis, I had just turned 51. I was living in a rural area in Indiana, far from major medical centers, so I began treatment with a local pulmonologist and oncologist. I also joined a Facebook group for ALK-positive lung cancer, which provided a lot of education and support. That group encouraged me to seek second opinions, including from specialists in Nashville and at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
For the first five years, I stayed with my local oncologist because the care was consistent with standard treatment and convenient. Later, I transitioned to a larger hospital in Indianapolis for access to clinical trials and more advanced care. My current oncologist also helped confirm my diagnosis and guide treatment decisions. Within weeks of diagnosis, testing revealed I was ALK positive, which is a genetic mutation often seen in younger lung cancer patients.
I was immediately started on a targeted therapy drug, known as a TKI. At the beginning, I experienced serious side effects, including bradycardia and pneumonitis. My oncologist adjusted my dosage, and I eventually found that a lower dose was still effective while reducing side effects. Over time, my tumor shrank by about 40%, and I remained stable for years. Eventually, I was even able to return to a full dose without the earlier complications.
After about five years on the first medication, I began to see new growth in some lung nodules. I underwent radiation therapy to target those areas while continuing the same medication. This happened again about a year later. Eventually, after additional small areas of growth appeared, it became clear that it was time to switch treatments to a newer drug.
I started the new TKI about a year ago and have been stable since then. Some scans have been uncertain, but my most recent scan showed stability. Overall, I have tolerated both medications well. Earlier side effects included bloating, constipation, and sensitivity, while the current medication causes some mild neuropathy and tingling in my hands, which has mostly subsided. I have also had more energy and less weight gain on this newer treatment.
Managing side effects has been part of my journey. I learned to take precautions like wearing sunscreen, protective clothing, and a hat to avoid sun sensitivity, and I found ways to manage constipation and other symptoms. Despite everything, I focus on the fact that the treatment is working, which is the most important thing.
I recently attended a conference in San Diego focused on ALK-positive lung cancer, where doctors and patients discussed clinical trials and new treatments. I learned how important clinical trials are for developing better therapies and how they help move treatment forward for others in the future. While I am not currently seeking a clinical trial, it is something I may consider down the road.
Living with cancer has changed my perspective on life. I feel especially for younger patients and parents with children still at home. I am grateful that I was able to raise my children and now have seven grandchildren, many of whom I have been able to meet since my diagnosis.
My faith plays an important role in how I cope. I focus on living each day fully, being kind, and spending time with family and friends. I have a small group of people I rely on deeply, including my husband, my two daughters, my sister, and my mother.
I’ve learned not to live in fear. It took me about two years after my diagnosis to reach a point where I decided not to worry every day and instead live as if I have all the time in the world. Life is short, and I choose to make the most of it.