How a Lung Cancer Diagnosis Gave One Woman a New Lease on Life
Following the initial shock, Jessie knew she had to fight.
It was a rainy day when Jessie Stern* was driving around Harrisburg, PA, running errands. While on her way home, she was paused at a stop sign when the driver behind her slid into her rear bumper. They both got out to look for any damage and to see if either driver was hurt. The damage was minimal, and they both felt OK—so they both went on their way.
Several days later, Jessie started having pains in her lower abdomen. She decided to wait it out one more day, but by the next morning the pain hadn’t let up. When she called her doctor’s office and explained the situation, they told her to go to the emergency room.
A surprise diagnosis
Once in the ER, Jessie went from one test to another, feeling uncertain about what was happening. Eventually, she was informed to her surprise that there were lesions on her lungs and she was referred to a heart-lung specialist for a biopsy.
When the biopsy came back, so did a diagnosis. The physician told Jessie, “You have advanced non-small cell lung cancer.”
Lung cancer remains the second most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women in the United States. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common form of the disease.
“I looked at him like he was crazy,” Jessie recalls. “All I could think to say was, ‘Well, is it operable?’” In Jessie’s case, it wasn’t—but there were other treatment options.
Jessie couldn’t help but think about her father, who had been diagnosed with cancer a number of years ago — and also her mother, whose health challenges prior to that encouraged Jessie to pay close attention to her own health. “It was a wake-up call for me,” she says. “Her experience taught me a lot, but especially that I should be proactive with my health.” Because of this, Jessie’s always attended regular physicals and gone to the doctor anytime she was sick.
“It was then that I knew I had to decide how I was going to deal with this,” she says. “I could sit and wallow, or I could put my big-girl pants on and rise to the challenge.”
Fortunately, she found a support system in her family, her church, and herself. “I had to say to myself, ‘You can do this,’” Jessie explains. “Cancer was throwing no more stones at me than life had thrown at me before.”
Finding a way forward
Jessie started on a treatment plan prescribed by her oncologist, which included platinum-based chemotherapy, but the treatments she tried didn’t work. While cycling through different treatments, she remembers feeling mentally exhausted.
According to Patricia Goldsmith, CEO of the advocacy organization CancerCare, the complexities and challenges of a cancer diagnosis can lead to a range of emotions that can also change over the course of a person’s experience. “While there are common threads across many who have faced cancer, it’s also a very individual experience,” says Goldsmith. “That’s why it’s so important for patients to feel supported and heard by both their loved ones and care team.”
When Jessie’s go-getter attitude started to fade, her doctor helped “set her straight.”
“He gave me some much-needed words of encouragement and assured me we would find a treatment that was right for me,” she says. “I realized it was me who had lost hope. It was cancer trying to take over. I had to tell cancer, I’m the boss. You don’t run this show.”
That realization, along with her faith, is how Jessie says she made it through that difficult time.
A differentiated treatment approach
“An advanced NSCLC diagnosis can be particularly challenging for patients,” explains Sigrun Hallmeyer, MD, Medical Director of the Oncology Service Line and the Cancer Survivorship Center at Advocate Lutheran General in Park Ridge, IL. “For a long time, treatment options were limited and there was a persistent unmet need in those impacted by the disease—but fortunately, in recent years progress is making a difference.”
Jessie’s oncologist then recommended she begin treatment with a type of therapy called immunotherapy, which Dr. Hallmeyer describes as “an important advancement in the NSCLC treatment landscape.”
The drug that Jessie’s doctor prescribed was Opdivo® (nivolumab), an immunotherapy developed by Bristol Myers Squibb, that is used to treat people with NSCLC that has spread or grown after being treated with platinum-based chemotherapy that did not work or is no longer working; and, if the tumor has an abnormal EGFR or ALK gene, the patient has also tried an FDA-approved therapy for tumors with these abnormal genes and this treatment did not work or is no longer working. It is not known if Opdivo is safe and effective in children younger than 18 years of age. Opdivo will not work for every patient, and results may vary.
Opdivo harnesses the body's own immune system to help fight cancer. In some cases, Opdivo can cause a patient's T-cells to attack healthy cells contained within organs and tissues in any area of the body and can affect the way they work.
Opdivo can cause problems that can sometimes become serious or life-threatening and can lead to death. Serious side effects may include lung problems (pneumonitis); intestinal problems (colitis), which can lead to tears or holes in the intestine; liver problems (hepatitis); hormone gland problems (especially the thyroid, pituitary, adrenal glands, and pancreas); kidney problems, including nephritis and kidney failure; skin problems; inflammation of the brain (encephalitis); problems in other organs; and severe infusion-related reactions. Please see the Important Safety Information at the bottom of this page.
Demonstrating a survival benefit
The survival benefit of Opdivo in certain patients with advanced non-squamous or squamous NSCLC, who received prior treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy, has been demonstrated in initial trial results from two separate clinical trials.
In the initial and primary trial analysis, half of the 292 patients with previously-treated advanced non-squamous NSCLC were alive 12.2 months after starting treatment with Opdivo, versus 9.4 months for the 290 patients who received chemotherapy. Overall, the risk of dying was reduced by 27% with Opdivo compared to chemotherapy. Of the patients with previously treated advanced squamous NSCLC, half of the 135 patients treated with Opdivo were alive 9.2 months later, compared to 6 months for the 137 patients that received chemotherapy. Overall, the risk of dying was reduced by 41% with Opdivo compared to chemotherapy.
At five years, a follow-up analysis of the trials showed that 14% of patients with previously-treated non-squamous NSCLC who had received Opdivo were still alive versus 2.1% of those receiving chemotherapy. For patients with previously-treated squamous NSCLC, 12.3% of those treated with Opdivo were alive versus 3.6% who received chemotherapy.
“Opdivo is considered to be a standard of care for patients with previously-treated NSCLC,” said Dr. Hallmeyer. “The five-year survival rates seen in two Phase 3 trials reinforce just how far we’ve come in treating this disease.”
The most common adverse reactions (≥20%) seen in patients receiving Opdivo were fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, cough, dyspnea, and decreased appetite. No new safety signals were observed in the five-year analysis. Please see additional Important Safety Information below.
In Jessie's case, after receiving treatment with Opdivo, she began to see improvement.
The turnaround
Today, Jessie is as positive and hopeful as ever, and says, “Whatever comes my way, I just apply what I’ve learned, get up, and move on.” And her cancer experience affected her perspective even more meaningfully. “Things could always be worse. Things could always be better. But life is what it is in the moment,” she says. “I deal with what’s in the moment.”
Visit Opdivo.com to learn more about this treatment option.
*Jessie is a Bristol Myers Squibb Patient Ambassador.
INDICATION
OPDIVO®(nivolumab) is a prescription medicine used to treat people with a type of advanced-stage lung cancer (called non-small cell lung cancer) that has spread or grown and you have tried chemotherapy that contains platinum, and it did not work or is no longer working. If your tumor has an abnormal EGFR or ALK gene, you should have also tried an FDA-approved therapy for tumors with these abnormal genes, and it did not work or is no longer working.
It is not known if OPDIVO is safe and effective in children younger than 18 years of age.
Important Safety Information for OPDIVO® (nivolumab)
OPDIVO is a medicine that may treat certain cancers by working with your immune system. OPDIVO can cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in any area of your body and can affect the way they work. These problems can sometimes become serious or life-threatening and can lead to death. These problems may happen anytime during treatment or even after your treatment has ended.
Serious side effects may include:
● Lung problems (pneumonitis). Symptoms of pneumonitis may include new or worsening cough; chest pain; and shortness of breath.
● Intestinal problems (colitis) that can lead to tears or holes in your intestine. Signs and symptoms of colitis may include: diarrhea (loose stools) or more bowel movements than usual; blood in your stools or dark, tarry, sticky stools; and severe stomach area (abdomen) pain or tenderness.
● Liver problems (hepatitis). Signs and symptoms of hepatitis may include yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes; severe nausea or vomiting; pain on the right side of your stomach area (abdomen); drowsiness; dark urine (tea-colored); bleeding or bruising more easily than normal; feeling less hungry than usual; and decreased energy.
● Hormone gland problems (especially the thyroid, pituitary, adrenal glands, and pancreas). Signs and symptoms that your hormone glands are not working properly may include: headaches that will not go away or unusual headaches; extreme tiredness; weight gain or weight loss; dizziness or fainting; changes in mood or behavior, such as decreased sex drive, irritability, or forgetfulness; hair loss; feeling cold; constipation; voice gets deeper; and excessive thirst or lots of urine.
● Kidney problems, including nephritis and kidney failure. Signs of kidney problems may include a decrease in the amount of urine; blood in your urine; swelling in your ankles; and loss of appetite.
● Skin Problems. Signs of these problems may include rash; itching; skin blistering; and ulcers in the mouth or other mucous membranes.
● Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis). Signs and symptoms of encephalitis may include headache; fever; tiredness or weakness; confusion; memory problems; sleepiness; seeing or hearing things that are not really there (hallucinations); seizures; and stiff neck.
● Problems in other organs. Signs of these problems may include changes in eyesight; severe or persistent muscle or joint pains; severe muscle weakness; and chest pain.
Get medical help immediately if you develop any of these symptoms or they get worse. It may keep these problems from becoming more serious. Your healthcare team will check you for side effects during treatment and may treat you with corticosteroid or hormone replacement medicines. If you have a serious side effect, your healthcare team may also need to delay or completely stop your treatment.
OPDIVO can cause serious side effects, including:● Severe infusion reactions. Tell your doctor or nurse right away if you get these symptoms during an infusion of OPDIVO: chills or shaking; itching or rash; flushing; difficulty breathing; dizziness; fever; and feeling like passing out.
OPDIVO®(nivolumab) is a prescription medicine used to treat people with a type of advanced-stage lung cancer (called non-small cell lung cancer) that has spread or grown and you have tried chemotherapy that contains platinum, and it did not work or is no longer working. If your tumor has an abnormal EGFR or ALK gene, you should have also tried an FDA-approved therapy for tumors with these abnormal genes, and it did not work or is no longer working.
It is not known if OPDIVO is safe and effective in children younger than 18 years of age.
Important Safety Information for OPDIVO® (nivolumab)
OPDIVO is a medicine that may treat certain cancers by working with your immune system. OPDIVO can cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in any area of your body and can affect the way they work. These problems can sometimes become serious or life-threatening and can lead to death. These problems may happen anytime during treatment or even after your treatment has ended.
Serious side effects may include:
● Lung problems (pneumonitis). Symptoms of pneumonitis may include new or worsening cough; chest pain; and shortness of breath.
● Intestinal problems (colitis) that can lead to tears or holes in your intestine. Signs and symptoms of colitis may include: diarrhea (loose stools) or more bowel movements than usual; blood in your stools or dark, tarry, sticky stools; and severe stomach area (abdomen) pain or tenderness.
● Liver problems (hepatitis). Signs and symptoms of hepatitis may include yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes; severe nausea or vomiting; pain on the right side of your stomach area (abdomen); drowsiness; dark urine (tea-colored); bleeding or bruising more easily than normal; feeling less hungry than usual; and decreased energy.
● Hormone gland problems (especially the thyroid, pituitary, adrenal glands, and pancreas). Signs and symptoms that your hormone glands are not working properly may include: headaches that will not go away or unusual headaches; extreme tiredness; weight gain or weight loss; dizziness or fainting; changes in mood or behavior, such as decreased sex drive, irritability, or forgetfulness; hair loss; feeling cold; constipation; voice gets deeper; and excessive thirst or lots of urine.
● Kidney problems, including nephritis and kidney failure. Signs of kidney problems may include a decrease in the amount of urine; blood in your urine; swelling in your ankles; and loss of appetite.
● Skin Problems. Signs of these problems may include rash; itching; skin blistering; and ulcers in the mouth or other mucous membranes.
● Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis). Signs and symptoms of encephalitis may include headache; fever; tiredness or weakness; confusion; memory problems; sleepiness; seeing or hearing things that are not really there (hallucinations); seizures; and stiff neck.
● Problems in other organs. Signs of these problems may include changes in eyesight; severe or persistent muscle or joint pains; severe muscle weakness; and chest pain.
Get medical help immediately if you develop any of these symptoms or they get worse. It may keep these problems from becoming more serious. Your healthcare team will check you for side effects during treatment and may treat you with corticosteroid or hormone replacement medicines. If you have a serious side effect, your healthcare team may also need to delay or completely stop your treatment.
OPDIVO can cause serious side effects, including:● Severe infusion reactions. Tell your doctor or nurse right away if you get these symptoms during an infusion of OPDIVO: chills or shaking; itching or rash; flushing; difficulty breathing; dizziness; fever; and feeling like passing out.
Pregnancy and Nursing:Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. OPDIVO can harm your unborn baby. If you are a female who is able to become pregnant, your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start receiving OPDIVO. Females who are able to become pregnant should use an effective method of birth control during and for at least 5 months after the last dose. Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control methods that you can use during this time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant during treatment. Before receiving treatment, tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if OPDIVO passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 5 months after the last dose.
Tell your healthcare provider about:● Your health problems or concerns if you have immune system problems such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or lupus; have had an organ transplant; have lung or breathing problems; have liver problems, or have any other medical conditions.
● All the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
The most common side effects of OPDIVO when used alone include: feeling tired; rash; pain in muscles, bones, and joints; itchy skin; diarrhea; nausea; weakness; cough; vomiting; shortness of breath; constipation; decreased appetite; back pain; upper respiratory tract infection; fever; headache; and abdominal pain.
These are not all the possible side effects. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see U.S. Full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for OPDIVO.
Tell your healthcare provider about:● Your health problems or concerns if you have immune system problems such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or lupus; have had an organ transplant; have lung or breathing problems; have liver problems, or have any other medical conditions.
● All the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
The most common side effects of OPDIVO when used alone include: feeling tired; rash; pain in muscles, bones, and joints; itchy skin; diarrhea; nausea; weakness; cough; vomiting; shortness of breath; constipation; decreased appetite; back pain; upper respiratory tract infection; fever; headache; and abdominal pain.
These are not all the possible side effects. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see U.S. Full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for OPDIVO.
Opdivo® is a trademark of Bristol Myers Squibb Company.
© 2020 Bristol Myers Squibb Company. All Rights Reserved.
1506US1904165-01-01 03/20
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