Vision Problems Lead to Rare Lung Cancer Diagnosis in Young Israeli Woman

Jihan Shalabneh, a 25-year-old from the village of Isfiya, was planning her wedding and pursuing her master's degree when a sudden blurriness in her left eye led to an unexpected diagnosis of metastatic lung cancer. Initially dismissing the visual disturbance as dust, Shalabneh's condition worsened over two days, prompting her to seek medical attention. Examinations revealed a lesion in her eye, leading to further tests that identified a tumor in her lung.

Doctors at Beilinson Hospital, part of the Clalit Health Services network, were surprised by the diagnosis in such a young, non-smoking woman. Dr. Yonatan Feinberger, an ophthalmologist specializing in ocular oncology, noted that eye metastases are rare, and even rarer as the first sign of cancer. A PET-CT scan confirmed the lung tumor, and a subsequent biopsy verified the lung cancer diagnosis.

Despite being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, a genetic analysis of the tumor revealed an extremely rare mutation. This discovery allowed doctors to tailor a targeted biological therapy using the drug Tagrisso, instead of the initially planned chemotherapy. Dr. Tomer Meyerson, an oncologist at Beilinson's Davidoff Cancer Research Center, described the mutation as exceptionally rare, with only about ten documented cases worldwide.

Undergoing the targeted therapy for several months, Shalabneh has shown encouraging results. The lung tumor has significantly regressed, and the metastasis in her eye is nearly gone, leading to a substantial improvement in her vision. Doctors are optimistic about managing her condition long-term, aiming to turn the disease into a chronic one.

Shalabneh continues to live her life, pursuing her studies and work while planning her wedding. Her experience serves as a reminder not to ignore any health changes, no matter how minor, and highlights the importance of precise medical investigation and personalized medicine.