Colorado Man’s Lung Cancer Care With Immunotherapy

When Ed O. went to the ER for shortness of breath and trembling, he never imagined he’d receive a diagnosis of unresectable (inoperable) Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The news left him devastated.

Ed lost his mother to lung cancer after she was diagnosed at his age, 69. He immediately understood the gravity of what he was facing.

“My family and I were scared,” he said. “The prognosis felt so grim — it was like we got hit with a locomotive.” Ed knows that smoking is a well-known risk factor for lung cancer, so he was surprised to learn that this disease can affect non-smokers like him.

Ed was determined to find cutting-edge care and visited a local research hospital that welcomed him with a multidisciplinary team (MDT), including nurses, a surgeon, a radiation oncologist, and a medical oncologist. His doctors agreed on a plan and reviewed his treatment plan with him, and then they started him on chemotherapy and radiation treatments at the same time, also known as concurrent chemoradiotherapy (cCRT).

Immunotherapy for unresectable Stage III lung cancer

Immunotherapy has become a standard of care in many cancer types, including unresectable Stage III lung cancer, particularly for patients who have not progressed following treatments like cCRT.

Ed was thrilled to learn that after completing a full course of cCRT, he was a good candidate for an immunotherapy called IMFINZI^® (durvalumab). This treatment was successful in clinical trials for adults with Stage III NSCLC whose cancer couldn’t be removed by surgery and hadn’t progressed after cCRT. Shortly thereafter, Ed began monthly infusions of IMFINZI.

IMFINZI is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with a type of lung cancer called unresectable Stage III NSCLC. IMFINZI may be used when your NSCLC has not spread outside your chest, cannot be removed by surgery (unresectable), and has responded or stabilized with initial treatment with chemotherapy that contains platinum, given concurrently with (which means at the same time as) radiation therapy.

IMFINZI can cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in your body and affect how they work. Side effects can sometimes become severe or life-threatening, and can lead to death. These problems can occur at the same time and at any time during or after treatment. See your doctor right away if you experience cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, diarrhea or other stool changes, severe stomach pain or tenderness, severe nausea or vomiting, weight changes, increased hunger or thirst, constipation, dizziness or fainting, headaches, changes in urine, eye problems, irregular or rapid heartbeat, muscle pain or weakness, fever, rash, skin blistering, chills, itching or flushing, as this may keep these problems from becoming more serious. These are not all the possible side effects of IMFINZI. Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions including immune system problems; if you’ve ever had an organ transplant; or are being treated for an infection.

Read on for more Important Safety Information and Prescribing Information for IMFINZI.

As Ed’s treatment progressed, his oncologist shared that his lung cancer had responded to the immunotherapy. “I couldn’t have asked for better news,” Ed said.

Ed worked with his care team to combine a holistic approach as part of his treatment plan, including exercise and healthy eating. He also leaned on his wife, son, and daughter to try and remain positive through his diagnosis and treatment.

Today, Ed is passionate about educating others who are living with lung cancer. “It’s important to stay the course, and complete the treatment plan prescribed by your care team,” Ed said.

The now 74-year-old continues to enjoy an active lifestyle in Colorado — biking, rowing, and going out dancing.

“I’m feeling good,” Ed said. “I want people to know that if you or someone you love is living with unresectable Stage III NSCLC, there is hope.”

Ed is a patient advocate for AstraZeneca and has been compensated for his time.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is the most important information I should know about IMFINZI?

IMFINZI is a medicine that may treat certain cancers by working with your immune system. IMFINZI 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 severe or life-threatening and can lead to death. You can have more than one of these problems at the same time. These problems may happen anytime during treatment or even after your treatment has ended.

Call or see your healthcare provider right away if you develop any new or worsening signs or symptoms, including:

Lung problems: cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain

Intestinal problems: diarrhea (loose stools) or more frequent bowel movements than usual; stools that are black, tarry, sticky, or have blood or mucus; and severe stomach-area (abdomen) pain or tenderness

Liver problems: yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, severe nausea or vomiting, pain on the right side of your stomach area (abdomen), dark urine (tea colored), and bleeding or bruising more easily than normal

Hormone gland problems: headaches that will not go away or unusual headaches; eye sensitivity to light; eye problems; rapid heartbeat; increased sweating; extreme tiredness; weight gain or weight loss; feeling more hungry or thirsty than usual; urinating more often than usual; hair loss; feeling cold; constipation; your voice gets deeper; dizziness or fainting; and changes in mood or behavior, such as decreased sex drive, irritability, or forgetfulness

Kidney problems: decrease in your amount of urine, blood in your urine, swelling of your ankles, and loss of appetite

Skin problems: rash; itching; skin blistering or peeling; painful sores or ulcers in mouth or nose, throat, or genital area; fever or flu-like symptoms; and swollen lymph nodes

Pancreas problems: pain in your upper stomach area (abdomen), severe nausea or vomiting, and loss of appetite

Problems can also happen in other organs and tissues. These are not all of the signs and symptoms of immune system problems that can happen with IMFINZI. Call or see your healthcare provider right away for any new or worsening signs or symptoms, which may include: Chest pain, irregular heartbeats, shortness of breath or swelling of ankles; confusion, sleepiness, memory problems, changes in mood or behavior, stiff neck, balance problems, tingling, numbness or weakness of the arms or legs; double vision, blurry vision, sensitivity to light, eye pain, changes in eye sight; persistent or severe muscle pain or weakness, muscle cramps, joint pain, joint stiffness or swelling; and low red blood cells and bruising

Infusion reactions that can sometimes be severe or life-threatening. Signs and symptoms of infusion reactions may include: chills or shaking, itching or rash, flushing, shortness of breath or wheezing, dizziness, feel like passing out, fever, and back or neck pain

Complications, including graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), in people who have received a bone marrow (stem cell) transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic). These complications can be serious and can lead to death. These complications may happen if you underwent transplantation either before or after being treated with IMFINZI. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for these complications

Getting medical treatment right away may help keep these problems from becoming more serious. Your healthcare provider will check you for these problems during your treatment with IMFINZI. Your healthcare provider may treat you with corticosteroid or hormone replacement medicines. Your healthcare provider may also need to delay or completely stop treatment with IMFINZI if you have severe side effects

Before you receive IMFINZI, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

have immune system problems such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or lupus
have received an organ transplant
have received or plan to receive a stem cell transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic)
have received radiation treatment to your chest area
have a condition that affects your nervous system, such as myasthenia gravis or Guillain-Barré syndrome
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. IMFINZI can harm your unborn baby

Females who are able to become pregnant:

Your healthcare provider will give you a pregnancy test before you start treatment with IMFINZI.
You should use an effective method of birth control during your treatment and for 3 months after the last dose of IMFINZI. 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 or think you may be pregnant during treatment with IMFINZI.
are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if IMFINZI passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 3 months after the last dose of IMFINZI.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

What are the possible side effects of IMFINZI?

IMFINZI can cause serious side effects (see above):
The most common side effects of IMFINZI when used alone in adults with NSCLC that cannot be removed by surgery include cough, feeling tired, inflammation in the lungs, upper respiratory tract infections, shortness of breath, and rash.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of IMFINZI. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects related to AstraZeneca products. (opens in new window) If you prefer to report these to the FDA, either visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is IMFINZI?

IMFINZI is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with a type of lung cancer called non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). IMFINZI may be used when your NSCLC has not spread outside your chest, cannot be removed by surgery, and has responded or stabilized with initial treatment with chemotherapy that contains platinum, given at the same time as radiation therapy.

It is not known if IMFINZI is safe and effective in children.

Please see Full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide for IMFINZI.