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 rose very fast over a few months and 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. A few weeks ago, I received the results and the quest for the next treatment options began.

We have a wonderful health system in Norway, but access to newly approved 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.

Moving forward 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.

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 family understand the situation better and helps me evaluate 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 maybe sometime next year.

So many tiny dreams for the year ahead!