Patient Voices: Emily Nelson

Overview

Lung cancer is often misunderstood, with many assuming it only affects smokers. But for patients like Emily Nelson, that misconception couldn’t be further from the truth.

An avid hiker, no hike or staircase was too big of a challenge for Emily to take on. During a routine hike in her neighborhood in late August of 2023, Emily felt winded. But it wasn’t just the small inclines and stairs that got to her. Emily started losing her voice, consistently coughed, and had a nasal drip. “This isn’t normal,” she thought.

Emily first visited her primary care provider (PCP), who dismissed her symptoms and prescribed nasal spray for allergies. But the spray didn’t help — her symptoms only worsened. By September, Emily was struggling to breathe.

When she tried to book a follow-up, her PCP had no availability for two months. “I would have expected they’d save some slots for urgent issues,” she said. Desperate for answers, Emily switched to a new provider, who immediately referred her to an ear, nose, and throat specialist and a cardiologist for a chest X-ray.

In September, Emily was set to leave for her girl’s trip when she received a call from the doctor. “There are nodules,” said Emily’s provider. It was after the call that it hit Emily — she might have cancer.

Following Emily’s trip, her provider recommended a CT scan, an imaging test that uses X-rays to create detailed images of the inside of the body. The findings? The nodules were cancerous. “A primary nodule in my left lung, innumerable small nodules in my right lung,” Emily shared.

After undergoing several diagnostic tests, Emily was referred to Texas Oncology-Austin North, where she was scheduled to see Allison E. Gorrebeeck, M.D., a medical oncologist and hematologist.

Emily’s diagnosis and experience at Texas Oncology

Although Emily feared not surviving or watching her children grow up, she felt reassured knowing her community spoke highly of Dr. Gorrebeeck and the care she provided to her patients.

Emily was officially diagnosed with stage IV EGFR mutated lung cancer, a form of non-small cell lung cancer that had spread beyond her lungs to distant parts of the body, including her lung, rib, sacrum, pancreas, and brain. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a gene mutation that causes the EGFR protein to remain active, continuously sending signals that promote cancer cell growth and survival.

Dr. Gorrebeeck presented two treatment options:

1. Slow-acting approach: Take Tagrisso daily, an oral medication used to treat lung cancer by targeting the EGFR protein to prevent cancer cell growth and spread.
2. Aggressive approach: Combine chemotherapy and Tagrisso every three weeks.

“I opted for the aggressive approach,” Emily said. “That’s when Dr. Gorrebeeck confirmed that that’s what she would have elected for me as well. So, she let me drive that discussion and make that choice.”

One aspect Emily appreciated about Dr. Gorrebeeck’s care is that she balanced professionalism with compassion. “She is factual yet caring at the same time,” Emily said. “So, I’m absolutely bawling, but she’s not bawling. She’s holding it together, but also telling me ‘you will be okay,’ so I think she does both phenomenally well.”

From November through January 2025, Emily underwent four rounds of chemotherapy. The treatment achieved its intended goal, and Dr. Gorrebeeck cleared Emily to return to work. By February, Emily was working while finishing up several recommended rounds of radiation therapy.

Comprehensive care close to home

One of the biggest advantages for Emily in receiving cancer care at Texas Oncology was its proximity to home. Being able to visit the North Austin location meant she could access high-quality care while staying close to her support network and continuing life on her own terms.

In addition to hiking and trail running, Emily enjoyed what she called her “grandma hobbies”: puzzles, reading, and the occasional crochet project.

“I got to stay for my eldest son’s track meets…Hanging out with friends,” Emily shared. “To this day, I cannot imagine trying to drive to Houston [from Austin] or staying in Houston for God knows how long to figure this out.”

Treatment outcomes

Though Emily was thankful for her health, the uncertainty of remission weighed heavily on her mind. Since stage IV lung cancer is the most advanced stage and has spread beyond the lungs, the diagnosis generally means the cancer is not curable. In some cases, treatment can lead to complete or partial remission, or the disease may become stable, meaning it stops growing but does not shrink. However, cancer often recurs, requiring ongoing monitoring and treatment.

“How long do I get to stay here, stay feeling good before the cancer comes back,” she questioned. “There is this misconception that because I’m basically in remission that I’m cured or beat cancer. But my reality is I don’t get to stay here. I will stay here as long as this universe allows.”

Although Emily has not been cleared with no evidence of disease (NED) status, she said, “I would have thought at this point, a year later, I would still be in treatment — yet within less than one year, I’m already as healthy as I possibly can be.”

Currently, Emily is in remission and managing side effects from Tagrisso, such as brain fog and joint pain. She is scheduled for a PET scan in December 2025.

Advocacy for the Asian community

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death for Asian Americans, and EGFR mutations are 50% higher for patients of East Asian ethnicities. As a non-smoker and Korean American, Emily has experienced firsthand its impact on her community, underscoring that anyone can be at risk. It’s a reminder of the importance of self-advocacy in the doctor’s office and regular screening, especially for those at higher risk.

“Now, it’s just about spreading the word of what the warning signs are,” Emily shared. “If you have this chronic cough, or if you know someone that has this chronic cough, talk about it. Get them to the doctor. If you’re primary care provider brushes it off, says it allergies, find another PCP and really advocate for yourself.”

“If I can save one person from a stage IV diagnosis, then it was all worth it.”

The information included in this testimonial is based on one patient’s unique experience and is not intended to represent all patient outcomes or expectations.