It’s important to think about your treatment goals and talk them through with your doctor. Together, you can make an informed decision about the right course of action for you. Your goals are personal—and your treatment plan should be, too.
They may vary based on several factors, including:
Your age
Whether you’re working or caring for children
Milestones in your care and your life
If your cancer has spread
What treatments you’ve tried before
Work with your doctor to find an option that considers both your medical needs and your day-to-day priorities.
Having a really strong gratitude practice has helped me. —Leslie, lives with ROS1+ NSCLC
Treatment considerations for ROS1+ NSCLC
With more treatment options available than ever, talk with your doctor about which is best for you.
What to ask your care team about ROS1+ NSCLC treatment
Will this treatment help shrink my cancer and keep it from growing?
•Will this treatment work against cancer that has spread to my brain?
•Will it keep working for me even if my cancer develops new genomic changes (also known as resistance mutations) that can cause some treatments to stop working?
Will I be able to stay on this treatment without it getting in the way of my daily life?
•Is this treatment specifically designed to work against ROS1 without affecting the parts of my body that keep me well?
•Will the side effects be manageable enough for me to stay on the treatment while keeping up with my normal routine—without major changes to my daily life?
If your current ROS1+ NSCLC treatment stops working,
you may have options
Targeted therapies don’t all work the same.
•Some may stop working or cause disruptive side effects
•If your cancer changes, your treatment may need to change too
The goal is to stay on a treatment that continues to help over time. Communicating with your care team is important.
Don’t hesitate to speak up. Your care team is there to help.
Work with your care team to manage side effects
Living with ROS1+ NSCLC can be challenging—physically, emotionally, and in daily life.
Side effects can be mild or more disruptive and may affect daily life. Tell your doctor what you’re feeling so you can manage them together.
Through conversations with your doctor, you can:
•Work to find a plan that fits with your lifestyle
•Address your treatment goals and priorities
It’s important to be your own advocate. For me, it helped to prepare questions before each appointment so I could make the conversation as productive as possible.—Luna, lives with ROS1+ NSCLC
Stay connected for future tips on living well with ROS1+ NSCLC
The right treatment starts with asking key questions—so it’s okay to seek another opinion, speak up, and look for a plan that fits your life and goals.
Don’t be afraid to push for a second opinion. It made a major difference for me.—Jim, lives with ROS1+ NSCLC
Advocating for yourself is one of the most powerful things you can do
Start the conversation—your care team is there to answer all your questions.
What to ask about treatment
•What should I expect from treatment?
•Is there therapy designed for my specific cancer?
•What side effects might impact my daily life?
•Is there a clinical trial that may be right for me?
What to ask to stay informed
•How might my cancer change over time?
•Do the potential treatment benefits outweigh the side effects?
•Can I get a second opinion from a doctor who has treated ROS1+ NSCLC?
What to ask about next steps
•What should I know about diagnosis and disease progression?
•How do resistance mutations affect my treatment options?
•What are common treatment challenges I might face?
Find strength through support
Below you'll find online support for ROS1+ NSCLC from patient advocacy organizations
A global community for people living with ROS1+ NSCLC, offering peer support, education, advocacy, and referrals to ROS1 specialists. Visit site
Find survivorship resources, caregiver support, and tools for living with lung cancer. Visit site
Access a support helpline, treatment center directory, and trusted education. Visit site
Learn more about lung cancer research and efforts to improve patient outcomes. Visit site
Support and education focused on research and patient empowerment. Visit site
