Mom of Three Beats Stage 4 Lung Cancer While Gaming and Parenting Cerebral Palsy
KEY POINTS
- •In early 2020, Summer Farmen noticed respiratory issues but initially ruled out COVID despite the timing.
- •After emergency lung fluid drainage found stage four alk-positive lung cancer, she began targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment.
- •Now a six-year survivor and vice president of Alk Positive Inc., Farmen advocates for research while managing family and cancer scans.
Summer Farmen, 50, Pennsylvania mom of three and primary caregiver to her son with cerebral palsy, was slapped with stage four alk-positive lung cancer in 2020 after mistaking shortness of breath for mid-pandemic gloom. Despite doctors draining 2 liters of lung fluid (roughly a Diet Coke bottle worth), targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors spared her a typical six-month death march, propelling her to six years of survival. From COVID suspicion to Fortnite fatigue, she found hope through Zoom art therapy and went on to VP Alk Positive Inc., pushing cancer research while juggling family chaos and the emotional rollercoaster only a triple-threat mom can handle.
Share the Story
(1 of 3)When your Fortnite fatigue turns out to be stage 4 lung cancer but six years later you're still schooling the disease and parenting like a boss. Cancel all 'midlife crises,' Summer's rewriting the script with targeted therapies and Zoom art classes.
Forget midlife crises — Summer Farmen is out here turning a rare lung cancer diagnosis into a six-year glow-up, all while keeping her gaming reps up.
Who needs a Marvel hero when you've got Summer Farmen, taking down alk-positive lung cancer like it's just another boss fight after Fortnite?
Source: Businessinsider | Published: 7/21/2026 | Author: Gabby Landsverk
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