[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign.
My name is Nancy Farrow, also known as Mama Lu, and I'm the founder of Epic Experience.
Epic Experience mission is to empower adult cancer survivors and thrivers to live beyond cancer.
I hope that as you listen to campfires of Hope Living beyond cancer, you find hope, healing and empowerment.
Through stories and education, we aim to guide those impacted by cancer and more importantly, offer love and support to anyone out there who needs it.
This is beyond Cancer.
[00:01:16] Speaker B: Hello everyone. This is Gail, AKA Sunshine. Today we have Jean Zurich joining us around the campfire. November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month and with the support of Johnson and Johnson, we're honored to have Jean join us and share her story and perspective as a lung cancer thriver. So, Jean, welcome and thank you for joining us.
[00:01:35] Speaker A: Thank you. It's my pleasure.
[00:01:38] Speaker B: So first, I'd just like you to tell us a little bit about yourself, where you're from, your family, career. And I always ask people to include one fun fact.
[00:01:47] Speaker A: I live in Minnesota. I'm a Minnesota native.
I'm married with two adult children.
And I spent over 30 years volunteering and working in hunger relief nonprofits including Open Arms of Minnesota, Meals on Wheels, and a few local food banks.
I enjoy being active outdoors. I love kayaking, biking, walking and nature photography.
A fun fact about me is that I used to ride my bike over 500 miles a week in my younger days.
[00:02:18] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:02:19] Speaker A: The farthest I have ever ridden in a day is just under 150 miles.
[00:02:24] Speaker B: Oh my. Well, that's awesome. I also love the nature photography that that is something I enjoy as well. Do you have a favorite subject that you're taking pictures of in nature?
[00:02:36] Speaker A: It would be right behind me and that is Lake Superior.
[00:02:39] Speaker B: I love it.
[00:02:40] Speaker A: I love going up to the North Shore and photographing nature along the North Shore and especially the waterfalls.
So many waterfalls, so many state parks. It's just absolutely beautiful up there.
[00:02:53] Speaker B: I love it.
[00:02:53] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:02:55] Speaker B: Okay, well, what brings us together is cancer and specifically lung cancer. So I'm wondering if you can give us a brief diagnosis story when you were first diagnosed, how it came about, your treatments and those kind of things.
[00:03:07] Speaker A: Yeah, sure.
For me it started in 2024.
I retired in June, did a lot of traveling for the first six months. And when I got home from a month long cruise, I was feeling fine. But two days later I got up, took my shower and I had to go right back to bed. I was so sick and I was basically in bed except for a couple of doctor appointments for the rest of the month.
And right before Christmas, it was December of 2024.
I found myself in the emergency room barely able to breathe, and the doctor came in and told me that I had stage four lung cancer.
And, you know, so I started out thinking that was it. You know, I wasn't going to get to spend my retirement doing all these things I want to do.
But a few days later, my doctor got some good news for me, that he had ordered biomarker testing right away, and I had an EGFR exon 19 mutation and that there was a targeted therapy that could help.
And so when we talked about it and we decided to try the targeted therapy, and the first one I was on worked for a few months, and then something happened, and we decided to try Rivent and Lazclus.
And that was a game changer for me because it really. It really made a difference in my lung cancer journey. Wow.
[00:05:02] Speaker B: How long into it did you. Did you make that switch?
[00:05:06] Speaker A: July of 2025.
So about six months in.
[00:05:11] Speaker B: Okay. And now where are you now? Are you still doing the same treatment? Are you?
[00:05:17] Speaker A: Yeah, I. I am. I'm. I'm on Ribervant on the Fast Pro Sub Q. So I get the injection form now. Mm. And I'm still on the daily last clus, which is the TKI pill that helps it.
[00:05:35] Speaker B: And you look great, so it's working. And are you able to be active?
[00:05:41] Speaker A: I'm still working on it. I can. I can go for short walks and I. I can go for bike rides. I have an E bike now, so I have a little bit of help with my bike ride, but I'm still working. My lungs were pretty badly damaged, and so it's still taking me a while to get back.
[00:06:03] Speaker B: Yeah.
So what physical side effects did you experience? I mean, it sounds like. So now you've been on treatment of some sort for over two years.
So I'm sure there have been some physical side effects and impacts on your everyday life. I mean, how has that been?
[00:06:22] Speaker A: When I started on the infusions of Rivabant, I had many reactions and side effects. So there were many dosage reductions.
We reduced the speed of the infusion, and then side effects started within a couple of weeks for me. Yeah.
But I had received a care kit that Johnson and Johnson put together that contained information about how to take care of my side effects, how to. How to prepare to lessen them and treat them as they occurred.
And I found that following all those protocols of the. Just using special shampoo, using a special rinse for my fingernails and toenails, things like that, that they all helped a lot.
[00:07:24] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:07:25] Speaker A: It was. I'm still following the protocol. Yeah. Using the medications that were prescribed and, and additional medications and they have all helped me sometimes to prevent a side effect from happening and other times to mitigate it, to handle it and ease like easing scalp itching or something like that.
So all in all the side effects have also been much milder or non existent since I switched over to the Fast Pro, the injection form. For some reason I have had no, no administration reactions or anything.
[00:08:16] Speaker B: Well that's great. Yeah.
[00:08:18] Speaker A: And my side effects are actually easing quite a bit. So I'm hoping that this is, this is kind of a, on the down to the, to the end for a long time, you know, on that roller coaster ride of side effects and reactions.
[00:08:30] Speaker B: Oh yeah.
[00:08:31] Speaker A: So I'm really hoping, I'm really optimistic and you know, and I'll just keep doing what I'm doing to keep these side effects away.
[00:08:41] Speaker B: Yeah. So Johnson and Johnson provided these, the original protocol, what do we call side effect management protocol when you first started, but you've continued doing it and it's. Yeah, I mean, why not? If it's working?
[00:08:57] Speaker A: Well, yes. And the thing is, you know, all it is, all it is is what lotions you use. Using a ceramide based lotion, using gentle soap, you know, a gentle face wash, using a disinfectant on your fingers and, and your toes, you know, to prevent nail issues.
Yeah, things like that, using a chapstick, sunscreen, those, everything is commonly available, so readily available and it's easy, it's easy to follow and I really believe that, you know, it's necessary to continue with these in order, you know, in order to help make sure symptoms or side effects don't come back.
[00:09:49] Speaker B: Well, for sure.
You hinted at the fact that you're exercise level has changed a little. So I'm assuming that's another physical side effect that these things, soap and shampoo and those things aren't going to necessarily touch. How have you managed those, those other side effects?
[00:10:09] Speaker A: Well, yeah, the hardest part for me has been learning how to deal with fatigue because there occasionally has been some fatigue that usually starts shortly after an injection or an infusion day.
And for me, my palliative care doctor has been working with me on that and prescribed for me something to help me maintain my energy if I do have some fatigue.
[00:10:50] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:10:51] Speaker A: Otherwise some days I just have to accept it and, but I'm doing, I'm, I'm doing my exercising my bike riding and walking at a level that is working for me right now. And I just try to.
As I feel a little bit better, I try to increase.
Increase the distance, increase the time a little bit.
[00:11:15] Speaker B: Yeah, well. And again, looking at your background, if you're looking at that kind of beauty as you're able to do this, the fact that maybe you can't go as far as fast, at least you're in a beautiful place and getting to enjoy nature as well. I would imagine if you've been that active, that not being able to be that active could have some mental and emotional side effects.
Can you talk about those? The treatment itself, the.
[00:11:43] Speaker A: The.
[00:11:43] Speaker B: And then also kind of the. From the side effects. You know, the. The reaction to the side effects.
[00:11:50] Speaker A: Yeah, the. Well, I think the hardest part of the treatment for me has been the fatigue, but, you know, so not having enough energy to do everything that I like to do at the pace I used to do it.
[00:12:03] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:12:04] Speaker A: Has been hard.
So there's been a mental adjustment as well and an emotional adjustment just to understand that.
Well, number one, besides the fact that I have lung cancer.
[00:12:17] Speaker B: Right.
[00:12:17] Speaker A: Not as young as I used to be.
[00:12:19] Speaker B: Yeah, there is.
[00:12:20] Speaker A: So I was already slowing down.
I just have slowed down a little faster than I would have liked to.
[00:12:26] Speaker B: Exactly. Yeah.
[00:12:27] Speaker A: And so I look at it that way. I will do what I can do when I can do it, and I'll just. I'll accept that.
And if I'm feeling good enough, I'll just push myself a little bit more. Yeah, but it's. Yeah, that is really, you know, and what has helped me, though, to cope with it the best is the supportive community. My.
My husband, my family, my friends, my cancer community has made such a huge difference in my life. Just being able to simply go online or text someone in my cancer circle who understands what I'm going through has been just an enormous help. Just knowing I'm not alone.
[00:13:19] Speaker B: Yeah, definitely.
Is there anything in addition to community? Because that is huge. Do you have any other practices for you? I don't know, journaling, coloring. I mean, is there any. Anything else? I don't. For me, I do coloring. That's. Why. Is there anything else that you've done that that has helped with the mental in addition to talking to people? Because obviously that's huge.
[00:13:44] Speaker A: Yeah.
Yes, the journaling has helped. I've. I've. I've done some journaling. I'm not a. I'm not a very good journal journaler, even though I was a journalist.
[00:13:57] Speaker B: Oh, really?
[00:13:58] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:13:59] Speaker B: But
[00:14:02] Speaker A: for me, to get through it is meditation and prayer.
[00:14:06] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:14:08] Speaker A: Yep.
Because I, you know, I, I, I, I read some, some books that just keep encouraging me, you know, good work, good word books, you know. Yep.
[00:14:21] Speaker B: Yep.
[00:14:21] Speaker A: And, and then I, I also attend some group meetings. For instance, this past weekend, I attended one sponsored by a lung cancer foundation here at home that talked about dealing with scanxiety. Yeah. All the anxiety of, you know, do I look at my portal or not? So, you know, do I want to know these.
What if.
[00:14:50] Speaker B: That,
[00:14:53] Speaker A: that was very helpful to me as well, you know. So it's things like that that, Yeah, I do, definitely.
[00:15:01] Speaker B: So I'm wondering, looking back, is there anything you wish you would have known back then about managing the physical and emotional challenges of egfr, lung cancer treatment? And what advice given that, that's part one. And then too, what advice would you give to someone who's just starting this journey?
[00:15:21] Speaker A: Yeah, I, I wish that I had known to reach out to the cancer community right away. Yeah. For, you know, for additional tips in handling all my anxiety, my questions about treatment, my questions about my diagnosis.
And so, so helpful. Just, you know, to reach out to those who've already walked in your shoes because they have helpful advice and they're always more than willing, you know, to, to give you help. And I would say to someone who is just beginning the journey, I would say take a deep breath.
[00:16:10] Speaker B: That's good.
[00:16:11] Speaker A: You need to take time.
Things aren't going to change in days or even a couple of weeks. Usually, I'd say it's going to be okay.
You take time to get a complete diagnosis, including your biomarker testing, find out if you have a mutation, learn about your cancer type, learn about the treatments that are available.
And when you start on any treatment protocol, make sure you understand possible side effects and what you can do to help ease them before you start on the medication. Because knowing what you're coming up against in your cancer fight is so important.
It's helped me so much to be prepared and to handle my side effects.
And just to have a plan to prevent them or to lessen them makes a big difference, especially emotionally, in how you feel about yourself.
And I would say don't ever be afraid to get a second opinion or to switch care teams. If you're not comfortable with something, you, you always have to be your own best advocate. And above all, I would say never give up.
Never give up. There's so much hope in the lung cancer research field now. Never give up.
Yeah.
[00:17:47] Speaker B: I'm curious if the biomarker, because it sounds like that test is what Gave you the option that is giving you the very positive result.
Is that something that every doctor offers, or is that.
Would you encourage people to ask? Like, I'm wondering how often it is that people are not actually offered that test.
[00:18:11] Speaker A: It's my understanding that it's a standard of care, but it's not offered for everyone.
[00:18:16] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:18:18] Speaker A: I know that it's offered as standard of care for a stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis, but they're starting to test more often for even stage one.
[00:18:32] Speaker B: Oh, really?
[00:18:34] Speaker A: Because even though you can supposedly cure stage one cancer, you know, by a resection, by some sort of surgical or radiation therapy, there's always a chance that there's a mutation in that lung cancer that can come back.
Because lung cancer is sneaky, and it's very tricky and it's very smart for
[00:19:03] Speaker B: some reason,
[00:19:05] Speaker A: and it likes to come back.
I really think that everyone, regardless of the stage you're diagnosed at, should have biomarker testing as part of the. Just standard of care.
When you start out before you figure out a treatment, you know, don't rush into chemotherapy because it's not the best thing for everyone.
And there are so many targeted therapies that you can take as a pill or an injection as well that it makes your life a lot easier. So I think it's just so important. It's. It's. It has saved so many lives.
[00:19:48] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:19:48] Speaker A: That it's, you know, I don't know why it's not offered for everyone.
Yeah.
[00:19:54] Speaker B: And I. I mean, physically, obviously, but I would think mentally and emotionally, if, you know, you've had this test and now, you know, you're getting the. The treatment that is the most targeted, you've done as much as you can do. Right. I would imagine that brings a sense of peace in the midst of this whole not peaceful situation.
[00:20:13] Speaker A: Right. And then every time that I have had progression, we do another biopsy and another biomarker testing because.
[00:20:23] Speaker B: To make sure that it hasn't changed again.
[00:20:26] Speaker A: Right. Because lung cancer mutations can change. They can add on.
You can, you know, you can add, I don't know how many different mutations depending on, you know, what's going on in those cancer cells.
So some people.
Some people actually show up with more than one mutation and have to take more than one targeted therapy to, you know, to really help them. Yeah.
[00:20:54] Speaker B: Lung cancer is sneaky, isn't it?
[00:20:56] Speaker A: It is. It definitely is. That's what I've learned.
[00:20:59] Speaker B: Well, is there anything else that you would want to share with someone who's listening, Whether it is someone who's just beginning their journey. A care.
Anyone who might be listening.
[00:21:09] Speaker A: Yeah.
Whether you're a patient or a caregiver, just remember you're not alone. There are so many resources out here online in your community that can help you have information and give you support that you just can't go without them, whether it's. Whether it's a face. There are Facebook groups for the specific mutations, even.
[00:21:42] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:21:43] Speaker A: And for the different organizations.
So whatever you do, start. Start looking them up. But don't trust Dr. Google in general.
[00:21:50] Speaker B: No, exactly.
[00:21:52] Speaker A: That's correct. Go to the lung cancer support groups. Go to. Go directly to their homepage and get your information that way. Yeah.
[00:22:02] Speaker B: Yep, definitely.
Well, as I usually end every episode. Marshmallows over a campfire.
Slow and steady or flame and crispy?
[00:22:14] Speaker A: A flame of flaming crispy, of course.
[00:22:17] Speaker B: No hesitation there.
[00:22:18] Speaker A: No hesitation. I love them crispy. I love them still on. Still in flames.
[00:22:23] Speaker B: Still on fire. I love it.
Well, Jean, thank you so much for joining us. This has been very informational for me and I'm sure for our listeners. I didn't know that lung cancer was so sneaky, and I didn't know that you could. There was a possibility of getting such targeted treatment.
And I really thank you for sharing that for those who are listening.
[00:22:45] Speaker A: My pleasure. Thank you.
[00:22:47] Speaker B: So until the next time we gather around the campfire, keep living beyond cancer.
[00:22:51] Speaker A: Foreign.
[00:22:57] Speaker B: Thank you for listening to this episode of Campfires of Hope, Living Beyond Cancer. For more information about Epic Experience and our programs or to donate, please visit our
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