When I was first diagnosed with lung cancer in 2021, I went through a battery of tests including CT scans, blood tests, bronchoscopy and biopsy. A few weeks later I was told that the tests had not identified any known biomarker or mutation however since my PD-L1 levels were relatively high, my oncologist recommended immunotherapy as the first line of treatment. Immunotherapy kept the tumors stable until fall 2025.

Late last year my CEA levels started to rise, I was moved to chemotherapy and enlisted to a clinical study with a comprehensive Genome Sequencing test (NGS TSO500). This process included a biopsy and blood tests and a 3 month wait while the laboratories worked on the samples. The good news was that the biopsy had actually retrieved samples of cancer cells that could be tested.

I few weeks ago I received the results and the quest for the next treatment options has begun.

We have a wonderful health system in Norway, but access to new medications can be slow. As a patient, this can it can be slightly frustrating. In my case, there are targeted treatments for the mutation identified, however these are only approved for other types of cancer.

For now, I have a few options including the pre-approved lines of treatment like chemo, or acceptance to a clinical trial that will provide a targeted treatment , alternatively I could move to a private clinic.

Fund raising for research The Norwegian Cancer Society (https://kreftforeningen.no/) supports research and innovation in cancer treatments. This year their focus is on the need for NGS testing to enable earlier targeted treatments to cancer patients. The survival rate for cancer patients in Norway today is 3 of 4, though the survival rate for lung cancer patients is a lot lower.

As a patient advocate, I have chosen to support the Cancer Society’s fund raiser for 2026 and hope to raise awareness regarding the need for research, NGS tests and the use of targeted therapy.

Moving forward Reaching out to people I know in the Lung cancer community in Norway and Europe has been a great help at this time. Next week I have my first meeting to get a second opinion. Fingers crossed that this helps both me and my husband understand the situation better and the options ahead.

In the meantime, I am enjoying every opportunity I get to spend time with my family and especially my grandson. He is growing so quickly. I look forward to babysitting, playing with him in the garden when its warmer and picking him up after playschool next year sometime. So many tiny dreams for the year ahead!