How does stage IV lung cancer treatment differ from earlier stages?

Treatment approaches for stage IV lung cancer do differ significantly from earlier stages, as you've noted. Stage IV typically involves systemic treatments like targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or chemotherapy as first-line options, while earlier stages may use surgery, radiation, or sequential treatments. Your observation about how research findings for one stage may not directly apply to another stage is really insightful and shows great advocacy for your own care. Connecting with others who share similar treatment experiences can provide valuable perspectives as you navigate these decisions with your care team.

I completely agree - understanding how stage-specific research applies to your own situation shows great self-advocacy, and you might also want to ask your team about biomarker testing if you haven't already, since that can really influence which treatments work best for stage IV.

I was diagnosed with Stage IV NSCLC which was found in one lung, a couple of lymph nodes, and my lower spine. I had a kyphoplasty, 16 radiation treatments to the spine, and a year of Keytruda (so far). My October PET scan showed no signs of cancer. Anxious for my January scan. I wasn't qualified for the targeted therapy, but other than side effects, I loved what the Keytruda has done.

I was diagnosed with Stage IV NSCLC one lung 1 lesion in Brain and a tumor on my L3 vertebrae in January 2024 I had surgery to remove the tumor than radiation to kill the lesion in my brain than 11 rounds of radiation around my spine to clear up surgery Chemo/Immunetherapy which has worked well except for a tumor in my back my soft tissue which was removed in June since July 2024 27 immunetherapy treatments I have been clear besides that tumor in back nothing has spread

i had chemo followed by immunotherapy

in june 26 I will be entering 10th year on firstline immunotherapy

does snyone have experience with guardants REVEAL blood test for mutations? approved by FDA?

I have stage 4 lung with brain and adrenal on trial with targeted therapy and keytruda had radiation on brain all gone adrenal gland growth shrank and lung tumor shrank One year in still more to go wish me well

I have stage IV lung cancer 2 spots in brain and several spots in lower spine and large spot on radius , started with chemo which just antagonized it made it grow faster, 3 months started trabecta, everything shrank at first , had radiation for brain , those spots are gone , the remaining cancer hasn't changed not growing or spreading almost 5 years