WHO IS AT RISK OF ALK+ LUNG CANCER?
Anyone with lungs is at risk of developing ALK+ lung cancer. About 4% of all lung cancers are caused by this translocation. This rare cancer can only be diagnosed with molecular testing. Of the patients with this ALK gene translocation, approximately 50% are under the age of 50 at the time of diagnosis, approximately 65% have never smoked and a large majority are female.
THE NEW FACE OF LUNG CANCER
"ALK-positive" refers to an alteration in the ALK gene (from Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase) which results in an anarchic an uncontrolled multiplication of certain cells which causes a particular type of lung cancer.
Testimonials
Paula
“On March 2018, I was diagnosed with lung cancer nsclc. After 1.5 years on immunotherapy, a biopsy revealed that I am ALK+. From then on, I have been taking TKIs and the cancer is stable.”
Florence
48 years old, diplomat by profession, exhausted after several years on post in zones of armed conflict. Doctors diagnose her with a “burnout” and prescribe complete rest. After a year her situation had not improved, further tests revealed an oncological cause and that she had advanced cancer. Molecular tests were being used to determine if she could benefit from targeted therapy that would help stabilize the progression of the disease.
