# ALK Positive: How Patients are Driving Research

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/moving-medicine-forward-6832193/alk-positive-how-patients-are-driving-research
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/moving-medicine-forward-6832193/alk-positive-how-patients-are-driving-research.md
Podcast: [Moving Medicine Forward](https://stenobird.com/podcast/moving-medicine-forward-6832193)
Published: 2026-07-08T18:38:59+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moving-medicine-forward/episodes/ALK-Positive-How-Patients-are-Driving-Research-e3lqnke
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/eb715a20/podcast/play/122559566/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-6-8%2Fba93f69e-7113-43f3-a386-a25418781ada.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/moving-medicine-forward-6832193/episodes/alk-positive-how-patients-are-driving-research
Duration seconds: 2321

## Resource

Summer Farmen and Jeff Sturm share their personal cancer journeys and the mission behind ALK Positive, CTI’s Q3 Charity of the Quarter. ALK Positive is a patient-driven organization dedicated to improving outcomes for individuals living with ALK-positive cancer. Together, they discuss how they became advocates within a global patient community, the importance of genetic testing and second opinions, and the role of research initiatives and clinical trials in advancing treatment options and improving patient outcomes. 00:00 Introduction to ALK Positive and today's guests, Summer Farmen and Jeff Sturm. 01:14 Summer and Jeff share their personal cancer journeys and what led them to become advocates within the ALK Positive community. 02:33 The mission of ALK Positive: connecting patients, funding research, and ensuring no one faces the diagnosis alone. 03:49 Why second opinions matter and how specialized expertise can significantly impact treatment decisions. 06:19 Research initiatives supported by ALK Positive, including clinical trials, grants, and collaborations focused on new treatment approaches. 10:46 Challenging the perception of ALK-positive cancer as a “rare” disease and advocating for greater representation in research and clinical trials. 13:22 How targeted therapies have transformed outcomes and extended survival for many ALK-positive patients. 15:47 The realities of survivorship: managing side effects, quality of life, and the role of palliative care. 17:27 The importance of genetic testing, monitoring disease progression, and making informed treatment decisions. 21:15 Clinical trial participation: common barriers, improving access, and helping patients connect with opportunities. 26:16 Building community through support groups, education programs, Healing Arts…

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## Transcript

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