A Professor Who's an Expert on Lung Cancer Is Also a Fighter Facing His Own Lung Cancer Journey
- A Stanford University professor turned his personal battle with stage 4 lung cancer into a teaching moment for future doctors, giving medical students firsthand insight into the realities of diagnosis, treatment, and mental health management.
- Lung cancer symptoms often go unnoticed due to their subtlety, with signs like shortness of breath, fatigue, and a persistent cough blending in with everyday ailments.
- Smoking remains the most significant risk factor for lung cancer, accounting for 80 to 90% of deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smokers are 15 to 30 times more likely to develop or die from lung cancer than nonsmokers.
- For nonsmokers and former light smokers, targeted treatments offer new hope. “Among patients who are nonsmokers, or former very light smokers, we identify a mutation that we can target with pills in about 60% to 70% of them,” explains Dr. Ronald Natale, a medical oncologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
- Lung cancer treatment varies based on tumor location and disease progression, with options including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or combinations of these treatments.
- Next-generation sequencing is revolutionizing cancer care. It allows doctors to pinpoint the genetic mutations that drive lung cancer and customize targeted treatment strategies.
As a father of two, Lin’s diagnosis last year was difficult to process—especially because he was not a smoker, despite smoking being a leading cause of lung cancer. Yet, instead of dwelling on the ‘why,’ he focuses on maintaining a positive mindset.
Read More“Eventually got an X-ray, big white area here in my right lung. I got two tumors in my lung, a tumor in my liver, and in my bones, but I’m not in pain,” he shared.
Lung cancer can be tricky to diagnose early, as symptoms like shortness of breath and fatigue often mimic more benign conditions. Many patients don’t learn they have lung cancer until it has progressed to advanced stages, making survival even more challenging.
WATCH: Detecting lung cancer in the absence of symptoms.
As a lung cancer expert, Lin understands the tough battle ahead. But he also recognizes the power of mindset in navigating treatment.
“Historically, for stage 4 lung cancer, you have about a 10% survival rate within five years…but you will have to have hope, right? You can’t live your life saying, ‘Geez, I’ve got a 90% chance I’m going to die.’ I live my life thinking, ‘Hey, people are surviving, people have lived,'” Lin said.
Since his diagnosis, Lin has received an outpouring of support—especially from his students, whose admiration and encouragement have moved him to tears on more than one occasion.
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Now, in a full-circle moment, Lin will take the stage as the commencement keynote speaker for Stanford Medicine’s graduation ceremony in June 2025. His message to future healthcare professionals?
“Remember to be kind and to slow down.”
“Having gone through this as a patient but also being a physician, I have one foot in both worlds,” he shares. “I felt like when I was a student, I would’ve loved to hear an experience from somebody like me, so I wanted to share that unique perspective,” Lin added.
Dr. Lin’s journey is one of perseverance, humor, and hope—a reminder that even in life’s hardest moments, there is still room for optimism and impact.
Helping Patients Understand Lung Cancer Risks
Smoking and Lung Cancer Risk
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 80 to 90% of lung cancer deaths are linked to cigarette smoking. Those who smoke are 15 to 30 times more likely to develop lung cancer or die from the disease than nonsmokers. Additionally, exposure to secondhand smoke can also cause lung cancer, reinforcing the urgent need for smoking cessation and prevention strategies.
WATCH: Smoking and Cancer Risk
While smoking remains the primary cause, nonsmokers can and do develop lung cancer. Researchers are making strides in understanding the differences between lung cancer in smokers vs. nonsmokers, according to Dr. Ronald Natale, a medical oncologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. These discoveries are fueling the development of targeted treatments aimed at the genetic drivers of lung cancer in nonsmokers.
“Among patients who are nonsmokers, or former very light smokers, we identify a mutation that we can target with pills in about 60% to 70% of them,” Dr. Natale explains. “That leaves 30% or so, 40%, in whom we either have a target for which we do not have successful treatment.”
For longtime smokers, the picture is more complicated.
“Among patients who are smokers, who have more complex cancers that have hundreds, sometimes thousands of mutations, don’t have a driver mutation that we can give a pill for, which is only a tiny percentage of lifelong smokers. Chemotherapy is the primary treatment in most patients,” Dr. Natale adds.
With new therapies targeting specific genetic mutations, lung cancer treatment continues to evolve. However, prevention remains key—reducing tobacco use and promoting early detection efforts could make a significant impact in the fight against lung cancer.
Helping You Better Understand Lung Cancer
Lung cancer forms when cancer cells develop in the tissues of the lung. It is the second most common form of cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women in the U.S., SurvivorNet experts say. It’s “completely asymptomatic,” says thoracic surgeon-in-chief at Temple University Health System Dr. Joseph Friedberg.
“It causes no issues until it has spread somewhere. So, if it spreads to the bones, it may cause pain. If it spreads to the brain, it may cause something not subtle, like a seizure,” Dr. Friedberg adds.
WATCH: Understanding the Lung Cancer Staging Process
Scans such as X-rays can help doctors determine if a shadow appears, which can prompt further testing for lung cancer.
Lung cancer often doesn’t cause symptoms until it has already spread outside the lungs, according to SurvivorNet’s experts.
There are two main types of lung cancer, which doctors group together based on how they act and how they’re treated:
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type and makes up about 85% of cases.
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is less common, but it tends to grow faster than NSCLC and is treated very differently.
Some people with lung cancer may experience symptoms such as:
- A worsening cough that produces bloody phlegm
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Chest pain
- Hoarse voice
- Appetite loss
- Weight loss
If you are experiencing these kinds of symptoms consistently, contact your doctor for further tests.
WATCH: How Immunotherapy Helped Give This Lung Cancer Patient a Fighting Chance
Treatment options for lung cancer depend on its type, its location, and its staging. In general, treatment methods include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of any of these treatments.
How Molecular Testing Helps Lung Cancer Patients
Lung cancer treatment has seen notable progress partly because of molecular testing and profiling. This type of testing helps better understand specific genetic alterations and mutations that drive the growth, development, and progression of cancer cells. Some of these molecular characteristics can be targeted using precise and effective new therapies to improve patient outcomes. Ultimately, understanding the molecular profile of each person’s cancer allows oncologists to use customized and personalized treatments.
RELATED Next-Generation Sequencing in Lung Cancer
There are several next-generation sequencing (NGS) tests you may encounter, depending on where you are getting treatment and what you are getting treatment for. Here are some of the common ones currently on the market:
- FoundationOne®CDx looks at 324 genes in solid tumors and says results can take up to 12 days. Test results include microsatellite instability (MSI) and tumor mutational burden (TMB) to help inform immunotherapy decisions.
- OmniSeq Insight provides comprehensive genomic and immune profiling for all solid tumors. It looks for 523 different genes. Test results include microsatellite instability (MSI) and tumor mutational burden (TMB), as well as PD-L1 by immunohistochemistry (IHC).
- Cobas EGFR Mutation Test v2 identifies 42 mutations in exons 18, 19, 20, and 21 of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene. It is designed to test tissue and plasma specimens with a single kit, allowing labs to run tissue and plasma simultaneously on the same plate.
Questions for Your Doctor
If you find yourself diagnosed with lung cancer and are concerned about the long-term impacts, here are some questions you can ask your doctor.
- Has my cancer spread to other parts of the body?
- Based on my cancer stage, what are my treatment options?
- What are the side effects of my recommended treatment?
- Are there ways to help minimize the effects of treatment?
- How long will I be unable to work or carry out my daily activities?
- What financial resources are available to get the treatments I need?
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