Learning to Live with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Coretta found a path towards positivity and hope through her journey of being diagnosed with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Coretta is a LIBTAYO® (cemiplimab-rwlc) patient and is being compensated by Regeneron for her time in sharing her story. Source: Regeneron

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By Regeneron

When Coretta received a diagnosis of stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), she was shocked. Thanks to her oncologists, they established a care plan together. Having her treatment plan underway allowed Coretta to return some of her attention to the things she enjoys such as spending time with her family, working on her business and visiting the beach when possible.

Before her diagnosis, Coretta enjoyed spending time with her husband and daughters, taking trips to Atlantic City, N.J., and visiting her mother in Florida. Coretta was excited to follow her entrepreneurial spirit and be her own boss by opening a new consignment shop, selling small businesses' wares from candles and lemonade to soaps and jars of honey. During the pandemic, businesses were suffering, and she was thrilled to help her community.

Shortly after opening her business, Coretta started experiencing back pain that would not go away. Thinking she had just pulled a muscle while restocking shelves and organizing her new shop, she went to see a doctor. During this first assessment she explained, “I was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection and sent home with antibiotics.” A week later, the pain had not improved and, in fact, had gotten much worse. Coretta’s primary care doctor sent her to the emergency room where, after several tests and hours of waiting, she was diagnosed with advanced NSCLC. Eight in 10 people diagnosed with NSCLC receive their diagnosis at a later stage, just like Corettaⁱ. Through additional testing, she soon discovered the cancer had metastasized – or spread – to her spine and brain.

“I wondered what was next,” said Coretta. “I had heard of lung cancer before — in fact, my mother was diagnosed with lung cancer two years before I was,” Coretta said. It was a scary diagnosis – lung cancer affects more than 230,000 people every yearⁱ, but Coretta put her energy into learning more. “I started to do additional research online about advanced non-small cell lung cancer to prepare for conversations with my doctor.”

After her diagnosis, it became increasingly difficult for Coretta to maintain her daily routine. Her family outings slowed down, and unfortunately, she had to close her business.

Coretta made a decision while in the hospital: “I wasn’t going down without a fight.”

When Coretta met with her oncologist for the first time, she felt very fortunate that he appreciated her desire to learn, understand more about the disease and be involved in her treatment plan. After going through a similar cancer diagnosis with her mother, whom she is incredibly close with, Coretta was determined.

“We sat down together and talked through all my options and agreed on a plan for my treatment: straight to radiation to try to shrink the tumors, and then treatment with something he explained was an immunotherapy,” Coretta said.

Coretta enjoys a picnic with her daughter, Iyyonnah. Source: Regeneron

After learning that her tumors had a high PD-L1 expression, which is a cancer cell marker that can help oncologists determine if a targeted treatment option might be right for patientsⁱⁱ, her oncologist recommended an immunotherapy that had been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration called LIBTAYO® (cemiplimab-rwlc).

LIBTAYO (cemiplimab-rwlc) is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with NSCLC. LIBTAYO may be used alone as a first treatment option when your lung cancer has not spread outside your chest (locally advanced lung cancer) and you cannot have surgery or chemotherapy with radiation, or your lung cancer has spread to other areas of your body (metastatic lung cancer), and your tumor tests positive for high “PD-L1,” and your tumor does not have an abnormal “EGFR,” “ALK,” or “ROS1” gene. It is not known if LIBTAYO is safe and effective in children.

LIBTAYO can cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in areas of your body and can affect the way they work. These problems can sometimes become severe or life-threatening and can lead to death. You can have more than one of these problems at the same time. These problems can happen anytime during treatment or even after treatment has ended.

LIBTAYO can be administered in a hospital, clinic or infusion center as a 30-minute intravenous (IV) infusion every three weeks until the disease progresses or if side effects become intolerable.

Coretta’s oncologist explained to her the risks and benefits of LIBTAYO. She was appreciative that her healthcare team took the time to make sure she was well informed prior to making any definitive decisions about her course of treatment. After deciding to move forward with LIBTAYO treatment, she learned more about a patient support program that helps patients navigate their journey by providing support, financial and educational tools, and resources and healthcare referrals for those who may be eligible.

“The oncology clinic even sent me home with information about treatment and patient support options, which answered a lot of my questions,” said Coretta. “My advice to anyone else newly diagnosed would be to do your research – get a good understanding of your condition and treatment options before meeting with your doctor. I encourage you to advocate for yourself and keep fighting.”

Coretta continues to receive infusions. She plans to continue to work with her doctor and monitor her treatment. “I trust my doctor immensely.”

When asked what she’s learned since her diagnosis, Coretta said, “I have had to learn to live with this disease and cope with all of it. I’ve learned to focus on my mental health and have patience which has been great for me.”

Coretta’s journey has proven the strength of her relationships with her family as well. “My husband and daughters are amazing. They are my rocks,” she said. Her experience has also inspired her family and loved ones to be more aware about cancer and to receive regular checkups.

Individual results with LIBTAYO treatment may vary. Coretta has gone back to some of her routines, from re-opening her business to making plans for the activities she enjoys with the people she loves. Her plans include travel, such as resuming her visits with her mother and taking trips to different places when she can. “I’d be happy to go anywhere nice with a beach,” Coretta said.

Her determination to understand her diagnosis and be involved in her treatment plan gave her a different perspective for her future. “I know the experience is not going to be the same for everyone as it has been for me,” Coretta shared, “and how you feel today is not necessarily how you will feel tomorrow, but you have to start with hope.”

ⁱAmerican Cancer Society (2024). Cancer Facts & Figures 2024. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/annual-cancer-facts-and-figures/2024/2024-cancer-facts-and-figures-acs.pdf

ⁱⁱAmerican Lung Association (2022). PD-L1, Pd1, TMB and Lung Cancer. American Lung Association. https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/lung-cancer/symptoms-diagnosis/biomarker-testing/pdl1-pd1-tmb