The Power of Personalized Medicine: Biomarker Testing Guided Maggie in Her Stage 4 Lung Cancer
Interviewed by: Taylor Scheib
In May 2021, Maggie celebrated her 60th birthday with a profound sense of optimism, believing it would be the best year of her life. However, a series of peculiar symptoms — including ocular migraines, a blood clot in her leg, and vision problems — soon derailed those plans. Following a misread EKG and a persistent cardiologist appointment, a CT scan eventually revealed stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with metastases in the brain. Despite the devastating news, Maggie’s narrative shifted from a fear of immediate decline to a focus on scientific advancement when a blood biopsy identified an EGFR mutation.
The emotional turning point of Maggie’s experience occurred when she realized that cancer treatment is not one size fits all. Initially expecting the carpet-bombing approach of traditional chemotherapy, she was instead prescribed a targeted therapy pill that led to no evidence of disease (NED) within just two months. This revelation transformed her from an overwhelmed patient into a dedicated advocate who views her scans as vital information rather than sources of terror.
Over the last four and a half years, Maggie has navigated five lines of treatment, utilizing repeated biomarker testing to identify new resistance mutations like MET amplification and MET overexpression. Her experience highlights the critical role of genomic testing in accessing cutting-edge therapies, some of which were FDA-approved only a year ago.
Today, Maggie remains focused on the blue sky behind the clouds, using her voice to humanize the statistics for drug companies and providing peer support to those newly diagnosed.
Watch Maggie’s video or read the interview transcript below to know more about her story:
- Biomarker testing is the gold standard for personalized care: Maggie emphasizes that next-generation sequencing (NGS) and tissue biopsies are essential for identifying specific mutations that can be treated with missile-like targeted therapies rather than broad chemotherapy
- Persistence in the diagnostic process can be life-saving: Despite being told her heart rhythm was normal and she didn’t need a cardiologist, Maggie kept her appointment, which led to the CT scan that finally caught her cancer
- Research is the foundation of hope: Maggie views medical research as the engine that provides new treatment options, noting she is currently on drugs that did not exist when she was first diagnosed
- Scans are information, not just a source of anxiety: By reframing scanxiety as a tool for data collection, Maggie feels more empowered to collaborate with her oncology team on next steps
- Community is a vital resource for navigating side effects: Joining mutation-specific groups like EGFR Resisters and MET Crusaders allowed Maggie to exchange practical advice on managing treatment-specific issues like skin conditions or edema
- Even in the face of a terminal diagnosis, it is possible to find a life that is more fulfilled and grounded in gratitude than it was before the illness
- Name: Maggie M.
- Age at Diagnosis:
- 60
- Diagnoses:
- Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
- Staging:
- Stage 4
- Mutations/Biomarkers:
- EGFR mutation
- MET amplification
- MET overexpression
- Symptoms:
- Ocular migraines (kaleidoscope vision)
- Partial blood clot (DVT) in the leg
- Vision and balance problems
- Minor chest pain
- Treatments:
- Targeted therapy: tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs)
- Radiation therapy: stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT)
- Clinical trials
- Chemotherapy: combined platinum-based regimen
Thank you to AbbVie for their support of our independent patient education program. The Patient Story retains full editorial control over all content.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length. This is not medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider to make informed treatment decisions.
The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect those of The Patient Story.
Who I am
Hi, I’m Maggie. I have stage 4 lung cancer. I was diagnosed in the summer of 2021.
I live in Northern California. One of my biggest passions is travel. I grew up with a dad who worked for an oil company, so we lived in various countries around the world. I love going on vacations, whether it’s around the world or locally.
Another passion of mine is animals, especially cats. After I stopped working in 2022, I started volunteering at a local animal rescue called Joybound. I do cat socializing and feeding once a week. It’s like therapy for me. When I’m focused on those animals, my scans and doctor’s appointments are completely out of my mind.
Advocacy and the importance of research
I’ve always liked helping others, so shortly after my diagnosis, I signed up for peer mentoring for newly diagnosed lung cancer patients. I got involved with groups like the Lung Cancer Research Foundation, LUNGevity, and The White Ribbon Project. In 2024, I went to Washington, D.C., for the Rally for Medical Research to talk to senators about funding for the NIH.
Telling my story helps me realize I can have an impact. If there were a headline for my life, it would be: Keep hope alive; research matters. Without research, we can’t have hope.
Early symptoms and the diagnostic process
In May 2021, I turned 60 and felt like it would be the best year of my life. A month later, I had an ocular migraine; it was like looking through a white kaleidoscope for a minute. Then I had a blood clot in my leg.
My optometrist suggested a physical. At that appointment, I mentioned chest pain. An EKG showed an abnormality, but then I got a message saying it was a mistake, so I didn’t need a cardiologist — I kept the appointment anyway.
The physician assistant ordered a CT scan for August 31st. By 9:30 a.m., I saw the word “metastases” in my health portal. A biopsy confirmed non-small cell lung cancer, and an MRI found metastases in my brain, which had been causing the vision and balance problems.
Discovering targeted therapy and biomarkers
I initially thought stage 4 meant I’d have chemotherapy, lose my hair, and be dead by Christmas. But I learned cancer treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. My oncologist ordered a blood biopsy that found an EGFR mutation. I started a targeted therapy pill in October, and by December, my scans showed no evidence of disease (NED). It was such a shock that I felt like I’d been punked. I started a quest for knowledge and learned so much more about the mutation through groups like EGFR Resisters.
Navigating five lines of treatment
I stayed NED until September 2022 when the original tumor site progressed. I had stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). In 2023, more progression led to a biopsy that showed a MET amplification resistance mutation. I joined a phase 2 clinical trial that worked for nine months. After that, I had more radiation and then started chemotherapy in August 2024.
By January 2025, the cancer progressed again. Because I had MET overexpression, I started my fifth line of treatment with a drug that targets that specific mutation. I look at scans now as information that helps direct my team to the next step.
Advice on biomarker testing and advocacy
Biomarker testing is critical for getting the right treatment. It allows for personalized medicine. You have to know your biomarkers — the genomic testing, the NGS — because there are drugs developed to target specific mutations. If your oncologist isn’t doing it, you need to ask for it. Targeted therapies are like snipers; they go in like little missiles to attack the cancer cells while leaving the healthy cells alone.
Finding hope and the “blue sky”
Hope means a good future and research. Without research, treatment comes to a standstill. I’ve learned to control my thoughts and reframe things. My life is actually more fulfilled now than it was before cancer because I have gratitude I didn’t have before. There is a meditation that says the blue sky is always there, even if it’s covered by clouds. You might be in a dark place, but it’s not a forever feeling. There is hope.
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Thank you to AbbVie for their support of our independent patient education program. The Patient Story retains full editorial control over all content.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length. This is not medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider to make informed treatment decisions.
The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect those of The Patient Story.
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