14 Years Strong: Lysa Buonanno on Clinical Trials, ROS1, and Living Long-Term with Lung Cancer

What does 14 years of living with stage 4 lung cancer actually look like? Host Annabelle Gurwitch welcomes patient advocate, mentor, and new grandmother Lysa Buonanno for a deeply honest conversation about long-term survival with ROS1-positive lung cancer. Diagnosed at age 40 before biomarker testing was standard of care, Lysa learned about precision medicine through an online patient group, not her doctor. That knowledge led her to switch oncologists, undergo surgery for biomarker testing, and ultimately access targeted therapy that gave her five more years before progression. Today, she's on her fifth line of treatment via a Phase 1 clinical trial. Annabelle and Lysa dive into: The hidden realities of clinical trial participation (travel, reimbursement, the famous "$20 airport lunch") Why lung cancer trials don't use placebos The life-changing power of patient community and biomarker-specific support groups Why second opinions matter—and what to say to your doctor How identity shifts after a serious diagnosis Why we say "the drug failed the patient," not the patient failed the drug Becoming a grandmother after a terminal diagnosis Whether you're newly diagnosed, considering a clinical trial, or supporting a loved one with lung cancer, this episode delivers practical wisdom, scientific insight, and genuine hope. Guests:  Lysa Buonanno, patient advocate and 14-year ROS1 lung cancer survivor Annabelle Gurwitch – Host, Author, and Patient Advocate New York Times bestselling author and LCFA Speakers Bureau member living with stage 4 EGFR+ lung cancer. Annabelle brings compassion, wit, and unflinching honesty to conversations about the real challenges of living with lung cancer. Diagnosed five years ago, she uses her platform to advocate for patients and raise awareness about treatment advances. Connect: https://www.annabellegurwitch.com/ | @annabellegurwitch LCFA Profile: https://lcfamerica.org/speaker-profile/annabelle-gurwitch/ Show Notes: https://lcfamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/LCFA-AMA-Living-Long-Term-w-Lung-Cancer-Show-Notes.pdf  Transcript: https://lcfamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/LCFA-AMA-Living-Long-Term-w-Lung-Cancer-Transcript.pdf  Video: Resources:  LCFA Website: https://lcfamerica.org Living With Lung Cancer AMA Podcast: https://lcfamerica.org/living-with-lung-cancer/ask-me-anything/ LCFA Speakers Bureau: https://lcfamerica.org/speakers-bureau/ LCFA Second Opinion Resources: https://lcfamerica.org/resources/second-opinion/ Biomarker Testing Information: https://lcfamerica.org/lung-cancer-info/diagnosing-lung-cancer/biomarker-testing/ Treatment Options Overview: https://lcfamerica.org/lung-cancer-info/treatment/ Elevate Lung Cancer Care - Learn about your advanced ROS1+ or ALK+ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) diagnosis and ways to navigate care plan discussions - https://elevatelungcancercare.com/