Laura Reed Takes On Lung Cancer with Rare ALK Mutation

Laura Reed, 38, Takes On Lung Cancer with Rare ALK Mutation

Charleston, SC resident and young veteran, Laura Reed, received a shocking lung cancer diagnosis at age 38. After months of making sense of the new normal in her life, Reed is determined to see a hopeful future and is preparing to make the most out of her time.

Lung Cancer Diagnosis

Laura Reed had been vigilant about her health due to her mother’s unfortunate experience with colon cancer. She had undergone three preventive colonoscopies by the time she reached the same age of 38 when her mother died from the disease. However, it was an unexpected lung cancer diagnosis that altered her life.

Reed had a lingering cough following a minor cold in May 2022 that stayed with her till her annual doctor’s examination at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System in April 2023. Her primary doctor recommended an X-ray for the persisting cough, which revealed a lung nodule. Although lung nodules are commonly seen among Navy veterans, a CT scan was conducted for further information leading to the discovery of a 6-centimeter mass in her right lung. Biopsy results confirmed it was lung cancer, a finding that left Reed into a state of shock for months.

ALK Mutation and Cancer Treatment

Keeping her options open, Reed sought a second opinion at the MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, the sole National Cancer Institute-designated entity in South Carolina. The comprehensive tests revealed that she had an anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) mutation which can precipitate lung cancer, especially in younger adults. Nearly half the diagnosed patients are under age 52, and most of them are revealed to have Stage 4 cancer where it has spread or metastasized.

In Reed’s case, the cancer had indeed metastasized into her pleura, the membrane surrounding the lungs. Surgery was ruled out due to the advanced stage of the disease. Instead, she was started on a Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (TKI), a form of targeted therapy to halt the growth or division of cells. The therapeutic approach appears to be beneficial, as Reed expressed, “The first CT scan after diagnosis, the tumor was basically gone, melted away.”

Commitment to Advocacy and a Hopeful Future

Despite the grim reality of having Stage 4 cancer, Reed is taking each day as it comes, focusing on what matters to her most. She partnered with the American Lung Association to advocate for research funding, early detection, and affordable health care as the Charleston-area Lung Force Hero. This effort involved a visit to Washington where she met with fellow lung health advocates and Congresswoman Rep. Nancy Mace, and staff for Sens. Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott.

Being given a sobering revelation about her mortality has made Reed all the more determined to live her life on her own terms. She expressed, “Because when you’re given the way that you know you’re going to die, it’s an awakening experience. And with me being able to live for years, it makes you think about how you want to live your life. So that’s my goal – figuring out what I want my life to look like.”

Though the treatment journey has been challenging, Reed remains positive about the progress in cancer research since her mother’s death, allowing more options for those diagnosed with the disease. Progressively deliberating on what her life should look like, she finds solace in the fact that she feels great, her cancer is stable and she has not yet required any radiation, chemotherapy, or surgery. As Reed boldly affirms, “So there’s a lot of hope for a long life”.