Lisa's Story

Hi. I’m Lisa.

I’m Lisa Roesner. And here’s my story.

In April of 2021, we had an early Spring so I decided to sit outside with my coffee. As amazing as the warmth felt after winter, I also sensed my asthma kicking in. Or so I thought. I went to my doctor for my annual dose of steroids. When I went back for my check-up, my doctor was concerned because there was no improvement. He sent me for a chest CT scan that day, May 27th—my 50th birthday. After the results, I went back to see him. Everything on that paper terrified me. Words like lymph node. Lesions on liver. On lungs. Ending with "recommend PET scan".

I had to find a pulmonary doctor and fast, because I couldn’t take a deep breath. In June, I was still calling every pulmonologist in the area. The nearest appointment I could find was in September! We decided to go to RUSH in Chicago after I already made an appointment. I was admitted on July 19th and diagnosed on July 20th with stage IV lung cancer. I remember being shocked, confused and angry. I didn't even smoke!

The next week my DNA markers confirmed that it was ALK-POSITIVE Small Cell Lung Cancer. And that was my sad introduction to something I never even knew existed. And here’s my dream: to eradicate ALK. And live.