Marisa Wittebort

[Editor's note: Marisa Wittebort passed away in November 2019, four years after diagnosis with the ROS1 subtype of non-small cell lung cancer.​ The Patient Power team was always inspired by her positive spirit, willingness to speak out about lung cancer, and to live life to the fullest even with the uncertainty of a serious diagnosis.]

Marisa Wittebort of Louisville, Kentucky moved to London to pursue a master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory at University College London. Shortly after starting her studies, she fell ill. Marisa suspected she contracted a virus after experiencing difficulty breathing, so she checked herself into the emergency room. October 13, 2015, she was diagnosed with stage IV adenocarcinoma at 30 years old.

Marisa underwent genetic testing following her diagnosis and it was discovered that she had a ROS1 re-arrangement of her DNA, found in only 1 percent of lung cancer patients. Today, Marisa remains positive and proactive, attending medical education meetings and advocating for others with lung cancer.