whichtargetsagenemutationcommonlyfoundinlung
cancers of female nonsmokers; 85 percent of them
respondtothedrug,and,asMarcouxsaid,“someofthese
responses can be long-term.”
Words like “respond” and “long-term” provide a
reassuring glossonadirereality.There isnocurefor
lungcancer atthisstage.Evenwithchemotherapy,the
mediansurvivalisaboutayear.Butitseemedharshand
pointlessforhimtoconfrontSaraandRichwiththatfact
now.Vivianwas in a bassinetbythe bed. Theywere
workinghardtobeoptimistic.AsSaraandRichlatertold
thesocialworkerwhowassenttoseethem,theydidnot
wanttofocusonsurvivalstatistics.Theywantedtofocus
on “aggressively managing” this diagnosis.
SoSarastartedontheerlotinib,whichproducedanitchy,
acne-like facial rash and numbing tiredness. She also
underwentaneedledrainageofthefluidaroundherlung,
butthefluidkeptcomingbackandthepainfulprocedure
hadtoberepeatedagainandagain.Soathoracicsurgeon
was calledin to place a small permanent tubein her
chest, which she could drain by turning a stopcock
whenever fluid accumulated and interfered with her
breathing. Three weeks after her childbirth, she was
readmittedtothehospitalwithsevereshortnessofbreath
fromapulmonaryembolism—abloodclotinanarteryto
the lungs, which is dangerous but not uncommon in
cancerpatients.Shewasstartedonabloodthinner.Then
testresultsshowedthathertumorcellsdidnothavethe
mutationthaterlotinibtargets.WhenMarcouxtoldSara
thatthedrugwasn’tgoing towork,shehad analmost
violent physical reaction to the news, bolting to the