From Resection to Risk Reduction: A Stage II Lung Cancer Story About Mutations, Meds, and Moving on

A woman in her early 60s, who never smoked in her lifetime, is diagnosed with stage II lung cancer after an abnormal chest X-ray—and believes surgery has ended the story. But postoperative pathology and molecular testing open a new chapter of therapy designed to lower recurrence risk. In this episode, host Lisa Moores, MD, FCCP, is joined by CHEST Guideline Chair John Howington, MD, MBA, FCCP, and medical oncologist Natasha Leighl, MD, to unpack how stage II decisions continue long after the operating room.

They explore how staging and lymph node assessment shape what comes next; how targeted therapy can fit into survivorship; and how to counsel patients weighing work, travel, side effects, and the emotional whiplash of “I’m cured… unless I’m not.”

Faculty 

• Host: Lisa Moores, MD, FCCP

• Guideline Chair: John Howington, MD, MBA, FCCP  

• Case Guest: Natasha Leighl, MD