Jason’s Journey with ALK+ Metatstatic NSCLC

This is an actor portrayal of a hypothetical patient profile developed for educational purposes based on characteristics of patients with ALK+ non-small cell lung cancer as seen in clinical practice. The hypothetical case was co-developed by staff Medical Writers with Cancer Network/ONN.

• 34-year-old professional rock climber with ALK+ Stage IV metastatic NSCLC, previously healthy with no smoking history.
• Persistent lower back pain unresponsive to rest and PT, followed by increased fatigue led to initial doctor visit.
• CT scan revealed a left lung mass with lymph node involvement and a small metastasis on the spine; molecular testing confirmed ALK-positive status.
• Started on lorlatinib, with manageable GI issues and fatigue as side effects; patient is motivated to return to climbing.