Learn about the latest treatments for metastatic lung cancer. We’ve got it covered, from new FDA approvals to emerging approaches in immunotherapy, targeted therapy, cancer vaccines, drug combinations, antibody-drug conjugates, and more.

  • March 9, 2021  

    How an Expert Would Treat His Own Advanced Lung Cancer

    With: Jack West, MD

    A new cancer diagnosis is overwhelming. Patients often ask their doctors, “What would you do if you were me?” Here, our Curious Dr. George asks lung cancer expert Howard (Jack) West, MD, how he would handle his own diagnosis of advanced lung cancer. Dr. West is a Princeton- and Harvard-educated oncologist with additional training and experience in Boston and Seattle focusing on lung cancer.… Read more »

  • July 30, 2022  

    Deciphering the Elusive Origin and Pathways of Brain Metastases Bookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    The most common brain tumors are other types of cancer that have spread (or “metastasized”) to the brain from a primary site elsewhere in the body. And, the genomic makeup of the brain metastases may not be the same as the primary cancer. An article from The ASCO Post discusses what this means for treatment.

    .

  • January 31, 2022  

    NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Small Cell Lung Cancer Bookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    The nonprofit National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) publishes guidelines for patients to learn more about their diagnosis and their treatment options. Here is their 2022 update for small cell lung cancer.

    .

    • SEE ALL
I learned more about my trial options from Emma in a week than I did in 3 years of previous care. Every metastatic patient should know about Cancer Commons. And I love how they use the data to speed up the N-of-1 success stories.

Michelle Kendall
Cancer Patient

Molecular tests help match patients to the personalized treatments that are most likely to work for them. Keep up with new developments in genetic tests, blood tests, liquid biopsies, tumor mutations, other biomarkers, precision medicine, and next-generation sequencing.

Some of the most promising new treatments for metastatic lung cancer are currently being tested in patients enrolled in clinical trials. We help you stay up to date on the latest results from these studies.

  • September 6, 2022  

    ‘Clinically Meaningful’ Improvement in SCLC Patients With Pembrolizumab/Chemo Combo Bookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    As reported by MedPage Today, long-term results from a clinical trial suggest that a combination of the drug pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy is better than chemo alone for small cell lung cancer (SCLC). But unfortunately, most patients who received the combo did not benefit significantly, and biomarkers are very much needed to identify patients whose cancers will respond well.

    .

  • August 5, 2022  

    Adagrasib in Previously Treated Patients With KRAS G12C–Mutated Advanced NSCLC Bookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    As reported by The ASCO Post, the drug adagrasib has shown some promising results in a clinical trial for people with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a KRAS-g12c mutation whose cancer progressed after prior treatment. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows adagrasib to be given to people whose cancer has a KRAS-g12c mutation through expanded access.

    .

    • SEE ALL
This free-of-charge, high-quality information service is a wonderful resource for patients with advanced cancer.

Hope S. Rugo, MD
UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center

Cancer affects many aspects of life, whether you’re newly diagnosed, in the midst of treatment, or in follow-up care. Learn about ways to maintain quality of life, such as palliative care and managing side effects.

  • October 14, 2019  

    Pediatric Palliative Care: A Specialty Comes of Age

    Sarah Friebert, MD

    For a child with cancer, palliative care can provide much-needed relief from stress and symptoms—for the patient and their family alike. Palliative care is given alongside cancer treatment, and is not synonymous with “end-of-life” care. In fact, anyone with a serious illness can benefit from palliative care, no matter their long-term outlook. Because of its importance for children with cancer, we are honored to… Read more »

  • August 11, 2021  

    Anxiety Before Each Chemotherapy Treatment Bookmark

    Lola Rahib, PhD

    Article from Let’s Win! Pancreatic Cancer: Pancreatic cancer patients share their experiences with pre-chemo anxiety and their personal strategies for overcoming it.

    .

  • February 11, 2020  

    ‘Impressed With Impact’ of Ketamine in Cancer Palliative Care Bookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    Article from Medscape curated by Editor in Chief George Lundberg, MD, who notes: 

    Depression is, for obvious reasons, common in patients with advanced cancer. The old, inexpensive drug ketamine—already approved for medical use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—seems rapidly effective, according to small studies.

    Go to full article published by Medscape.

    If you’re wondering whether this story applies to your own cancer case or a loved one’s, we invite you to get support from Cancer Commons.

    • SEE ALL

You’re not alone. Read how other patients and caregivers navigated diagnosis, treatment, and life with cancer. We hope their stories provide insights and hope for your own cancer journey.

More patient stories

Learn more about what’s new in advanced cancer research and treatment, including screening and statistics, using artificial intelligence to improve treatment, and other new horizons in cancer care.

  • November 10, 2022  

    A Powerful Knowledge Base for Precision Oncology

    With: Hongxin Zhang

    Genetic mutations found in a tumor can be important clues to the patient’s best treatment options. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in New York has developed a product called OncoKB™, which enables anyone to access and navigate key clinical information about the various genetic abnormalities that may be found in tumors. Here, Curious Dr. George asks MSK Lead Software Engineer Hongxin Zhang about… Read more »

  • June 2, 2022  

    Harnessing Each Patient’s Data to Help Many More

    With: Kaumudi Bhawe, PhD

    At Cancer Commons, we don’t just help people navigate cancer treatment; we learn from everyone we help. Here, our Curious Dr. George asks Cancer Commons Clinical Scientist Kaumudi Bhawe, PhD, to share how new knowledge can be captured from every patient to help many more. Curious Dr. George: Cancer Commons has accumulated in-depth data on many hundreds of patients with various cancers. Because of the… Read more »

    • SEE ALL

The coronavirus pandemic presents unprecedented challenges to cancer patients. We can help you understand how COVID-19 might impact your treatment and other aspects of your cancer care.