IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Diving Deeper: Targeted Therapy, Radiation, and Immunotherapy

Diving Deeper: Targeted Therapy, Radiation, and Immunotherapy

Lung cancer experts from Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center dive into the how and why behind targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy. Touching on improvements to treatment options, side effects, fertility, and much more, they answer audience questions along the way in this recorded webinar. Watch the full video or use the timestamps below to jump to a specific topic. 

Lung Cancer Masterclass: Get Smart About Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer Masterclass: Get Smart About Lung Cancer

In the past five years, the lung cancer community has seen an astonishing number of new treatments. As our understanding of lung cancer has deepened, the older treatment approaches have also become more effective and efficient.  These options are fantastic steps toward improving the overall survival and quality of life for people living with lung cancer, but it can be difficult for patients and caregivers to keep track of the new drug treatments and scientific advancements. …

Treatment of Advanced Stage NSCLC Without Targetable Biomarkers - Recorded Video

Treatment of Advanced Stage NSCLC Without Targetable Biomarkers - Recorded Video

In this webinar, we discuss treatment of metastatic NSCLC that does not have targetable biomarkers.Hear from guest speakers Denise Cutlip (patient advocate) and Dr. Benjamin Levy (Thoracic Oncologist & Clinical Director of Medical Oncology, Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Sibley Memorial Hospital).  Dr. Levy is a physician-scientist who runs clinical trials in lung cancer. He is a member of LUNGevity's Scientific Advisory Board.This webinar was originally recorded as a…

Questions to Ask About Clinical Trials

Questions to Ask About Clinical Trials

Asking your doctor and medical team questions about clinical trials is a helpful way to decide if they are a good fit for you. You may already have some in mind, but a few basic questions to ask and get answered before making a decision are:Do you know of any clinical trials for my type and stage of lung cancer?What are the benefits and risks of this clinical trial?What are the eligibility guidelines?How long does the study last?Will you still be in charge of my care?What are the costs, and…

Clinical Trial Phases

Clinical Trial Phases

The four phases of lung cancer clinical trials each serve a different and important purpose. From testing the safety of a new treatment to its effectiveness and long-term outcomes, this short video explains how researchers use clinical trials for new lung cancer treatments.Phases of a Clinical Trial:1. Safety of the new treatment 2. Does the cancer respond to the treatment 3. Is this new treatment better than the current options 4. Studies the long-term benefits and side effects

What Is a Clinical Trial

What Is a Clinical Trial

Lung cancer clinical trials are carefully designed research studies to evaluate and learn more about new drugs and treatments. They give people the ability to participate in lung cancer research and access to new treatments that otherwise may not be available to them, all under the close supervision of medical experts. 

Watch Recorded Expert Sessions From ILCSC

Watch Recorded Expert Sessions From ILCSC

The International Lung Cancer Survivorship Conference (ILCSC) is a free virtual educational conference for people with lung cancer, caregivers, and advocates. The 2023 conference was held September 22-23.  The recorded sessions from this conference are available to registered participants through December 21, 2023, at www.lungevity.org/ilcsc. If you did not register for the conference but would like to view the recordings, you may still register for free access. The recordings are…

Decentralized Trials: Bringing Clinical Trials Closer to the Patient

Decentralized Trials: Bringing Clinical Trials Closer to the Patient

While participating in clinical trials can provide substantial benefits to people with lung cancer, the resources required to do so may pose significant hurdles, especially to those who don’t live close to where trials are held, such as academic medical centers or major oncology network sites. Decentralized clinical trials remove some hurdles to trial participation for patients and are thus important for improving trial access for larger and more diverse groups of people. The U.S. Food and Drug…

Navigating Hope: How Comprehensive Biomarker Testing is Guiding Lung Cancer Care

Navigating Hope: How Comprehensive Biomarker Testing is Guiding Lung Cancer Care

Join us for a discussion on lung cancer biomarkers to learn what biomarker testing is, why it’s important, and how it can be used to optimize your treatment plans. We are thrilled to welcome our panelists: Balazs Halmos, MD, a thoracic medical oncologist from Montefiore Medical Center in New York; Elizabeth Ravera, a patient navigator at Montefiore; and a patient living with lung cancer who tested positive for the ALK biomarker. The panel is moderated by LUNGevity's Amy Moore, PhD, VP of Global…

The Basics of Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs)

The Basics of Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs)

Our lung tissue is made of different kinds of cells, including neuroendocrine cells. If these cells develop changes in their genome, they can begin to grow out of control and become tumors. Large cell lung cancer (which is the rarest form of non-small cell lung cancer) and small cell lung cancer (also referred to as SCLC) are both neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), derived from neuroendocrine cells in the lungs. LUNGevity spoke with Lauren Byers, MD, professor in the Department of Thoracic/Head…

Finding Clinical Trials for Lung Cancer: Tools and Resources

Finding Clinical Trials for Lung Cancer: Tools and Resources

Clinical trials are an important option for patients because the newest treatment approaches, not available otherwise, are being tested in them. Clinical trial research leads to more advancements and potential treatment options, and the therapies used today were once tested in clinical trials. Continued progress is only possible if patients with lung cancer volunteer to participate in the clinical trial process.  There are many ongoing clinical trials testing new lung cancer treatments,…

Real-World Drug Development at the Targeted Therapies of Lung Cancer Meeting

Real-World Drug Development at the Targeted Therapies of Lung Cancer Meeting

The development of new treatments for any disease relies on the collaborative efforts of many different stakeholders, such as scientists, clinicians, patient advocacy groups, regulators, and pharmaceutical and biotech companies. During scientific conferences that happen throughout the year, stakeholders cobble together opportunities to discuss the current state of treatments and strategize ways to bring emerging lifesaving treatments to patients. Each year, there is one key conference…

An Introduction to Squamous Cell Lung Cancer

An Introduction to Squamous Cell Lung Cancer

Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), also called squamous cell lung cancer, is one of the major subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Fifty years ago, LSCC was the most common lung cancer diagnosis. LSCC was considered the classic smoker’s lung cancer, as most patients with LSCC had a history of smoking cigarettes. Today, the incidence of LSCC depends on where you live. In areas with decreasing smoking rates, we’ve also seen a reduction in the number of LSCC diagnoses. Overall, while…

Ask Your Oncologist the Right Questions

Ask Your Oncologist the Right Questions

Communication is critical to a positive doctor-patient relationship. Knowing the right questions to ask helps ensure you leave your appointments with the information and answers you need. Being prepared may also lessen anxiety and help provide a sense of control. Meeting with your oncologist, especially when first diagnosed or deciding on a treatment plan, are times when being prepared with questions is necessary.   LUNGevity has downloadable lists of questions that you can bring to…

How Metastatic Brain Tumors Affect Your Lung Cancer Care

How Metastatic Brain Tumors Affect Your Lung Cancer Care

Brain metastases are known to occur in approximately 25% of patients diagnosed with lung cancer. This webinar dives into the details of brain metastasis in lung cancer to explore their signs and symptoms. It also includes a discussion of treatment considerations. Through this webinar, you will learn to: Understand how brain metastasis occurs Keep an eye out for signs & symptoms of brain mets Understand treatment options and management techniques This webinar was created in…

Understanding Pulmonary Rehab

Understanding Pulmonary Rehab

Pulmonary rehab expert Debbie Koehl, MS, RRT-NPS, AE-C, FAARC, speaks to LUNGevity's Survivorship Navigator, Kristi Griffith, to explain what pulmonary rehabilitation is, explore the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation, and gain key insights about how to obtain pulmonary rehabilitation for yourself or a loved one. The discussion is followed by an informal Q&A with other lung cancer survivors. This recording was made during one of LUNGevity Foundation's Virtual Meetups -- a free resource…

Pneumonitis: A Common Side Effect

Pneumonitis: A Common Side Effect

In this video, nurse practitioner Lauren Welch, MSN, NP-C, AOCNP, from the Sarah Cannon Research Institute at Tennessee Oncology offers a quick review of pneumonitis - a common side effect of some lung cancer treatments. Survivors and caregivers can learn: What is pneumonitis? What causes it? How is it treated? What symptoms should we look out for?

Introduction to Radiation Therapy

Introduction to Radiation Therapy

Lung cancer survivor Jill Feldman joins radiation therapy experts Drs. Drew Moghanaki and Kristin Higgins to provide an overview of radiation therapy – including discussions of when this treatment is recommended, how the treatment is administered, and which side effects are most common.

Lung Cancer Treatment Landscape: New Options and Ongoing Challenges

Lung Cancer Treatment Landscape: New Options and Ongoing Challenges

Drs. Upal Basu Roy, Amy Moore, and Dhru Deb discuss their recent publication in which they presented an analysis of the lung cancer drug pipeline. They talk about what it means for patients, new drugs under development for NSCLC and SCLC, and some of the ongoing challenges and opportunities this rapid growth means for the lung cancer community.

Discovering a New Approach to Treat Metastatic NSCLC

Discovering a New Approach to Treat Metastatic NSCLC

Lung cancer continues to be the number-one cause of cancer deaths in the United States. In the past decade, we have seen great improvements in the treatment of metastatic lung cancer with targeted therapies and immunotherapy. “When targeted therapies aren’t an option, the current standard of care for patients is immunotherapy alone or in combination with chemotherapy. But many patients don’t respond to these treatments the way we’d like them to,” said Sean Pitroda, MD, assistant professor of…

New Options in Adjuvant Therapy for Early-Stage NSCLC

New Options in Adjuvant Therapy for Early-Stage NSCLC

Historically, surgery has been the most effective treatment for patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). While technological improvements, such as the development of minimally invasive techniques (such as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery or VATS), have made surgeries safer for patients, the ability to cure early-stage NSCLC patients hasn’t improved significantly in recent decades. Even after successful surgeries that completely remove the visible tumor, about half of…