What is ALK+
An ALK-positive diagnosis can feel overwhelming. ALK-positive lung cancer is treatable, and targeted therapies have substantially improved treatment outcomes. Treatment options depend on each person's situation, and research continues to advance.
What is ALK-positive lung cancer?
“ALK-positive” refers to a change in the ALK gene (Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase). That change causes certain cells to multiply uncontrollably, producing a particular form of non-small cell lung cancer.
It is only found through molecular testing of the tumour tissue. It is not hereditary, and it is not something you brought on yourself.
Understanding the diagnosis
Around 4% of all lung cancers are ALK-positive. Of the people with this change, about 65% have never smoked and roughly half are under 50 at the time of diagnosis.
That makes the diagnosis doubly confusing: it does not match the picture most people have of lung cancer. You may find yourself explaining it more often than you would like — to family, to colleagues, sometimes even to healthcare professionals.
Because ALK+ is rare, it helps to be followed in a centre with experience of this change. Do raise it with your treating physician.
Frequently asked questions
I have never smoked. Can this still apply to me?
Yes. ALK-positive lung cancer results from a change in the ALK gene and largely affects people who have never smoked. About 65% of patients with this change have never smoked.
How do I know whether I am ALK-positive?
Only through molecular testing — biomarker testing — on tumour tissue, sometimes supplemented by a blood test. Ask your doctor whether this test was done and what the result means.
Is ALK-positive lung cancer hereditary?
The ALK change arises in the tumour cells themselves and is not passed on to your children. If you have questions about this, discuss them with your doctor.
Is this only for people at an advanced stage?
No. We are here for anyone with an ALK+ diagnosis, at every stage, and for families and caregivers too.
Do you give medical advice?
No. We gather reliable information and bring people together. What that information means for your situation belongs with your own doctor.
You are not alone
Our private Facebook group is open to patients at any stage, to family members and caregivers, and to health professionals who support the ALK+ community. Low-threshold, at your own pace, among people who understand what you are going through.
Become part of our community (opens in a new tab)