What Started As A Cough Turned Out To Be Stage 4 Lung Cancer For Dad, Stepdad Of 6

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — It started as a mild cough that doctors passed off as being associated with Brad Schnure's asthma or bad allergies. It turned out to be advanced metastatic lung cancer, Stage 4.

Now the clock is ticking to treat and maybe one day find a cure for Schnure.

A GoFundMe fundraiser site has launched to help Schnure, who worked for the New Jersey government primarily in the Senate Republican office for the past 22 years, and his family which includes his wife Nora, who has worked in Somerset County for the past 20 years, along with their six children.

Schnure's journey began in 2021 when he developed a mild cough. He went to the doctor who initially changed his asthma medication. Then doctors recommended allergy shots.

Then he started having a post-nasal drip and was referred to an ENT(Ear Nose & Throat doctor). Doctors then said his sinuses were blocked and recommended sinus surgery.

"I kept going to all different doctors but none of them solved the cough," said Schnure.

On July 29, Schnure's life would be flipped completely upside down.

"I started becoming extremely short of breath. My pulse was really high and my oxygen saturation was really low," said Schnure.

Schnure was hesitant to go to the hospital but Nora said "get in the car or I am calling an ambulance."

Following scans and tests, Schnure was diagnosed with advanced metastatic lung cancer, Stage 4, that had already spread to other parts of his body. He also had multiple pulmonary emboli reach his lungs, any one of which could have killed him.

"I was told that the cancer is probably not curable, but it might be treatable, which could buy me some time," said Schnure.

Schnure immediately underwent lung and brain radiation at the hospital.

"My case so advanced they needed to do something quickly to help beat it back. This was a first-line approach before a more complete longer treatment plan was created," said Schnure.

After more testing, Schnure was specifically diagnosed with ALK-positive lung cancer, which is a genetic mutation. It is extremely rare, less than 5 percent, for someone of his age at 47 to have this diagnosis.

Schnure said the diagnosis was a "game changer."

"It means my life expectancy went from weeks or months to possibly years," said Schnure.

There is some medication for this cancer to help for the short-term.

"The medicine for this kind of cancer does a good job of beating it back in the short term but at some point, it stops working because the cancer outsmarts it and mutates," said Schnure.

The average person has about two years before the medicine stops working.

"I kind of hope for the best. Hope for more good, quality time. Now my goal is - knowing what my end result is likely to be - have more quality time with my kids, my wife, and my family. To be healthy enough to spend good quality time with them," said Schnure.

Schnure and Nora recently got married in June blending their families together. Schnure has three children and Nora has three children.

Schnure said his kids are very involved in sports and his goal is just to be there for them.

"I want to watch everything they do and be there so that they can remember me always being there," said Schnure.

Schnure decided to take a disability retirement and focus on treatment and his family.

"My biggest issue is the loss of income and I am worried about the bills associated with the custom testing needed to help come up with a treatment plan. I have to do tests every few months," said Schnure.

Schnure was able to work with Congressman Tom Kean Jr.(District 7)'s office to help secure disability insurance. They helped work with the Social Security Office to get the benefits ready now.

"It's a peace of mind to not have that financial burden," said Schnure.

However, there are still more bills to come in. To help him, Senator Holly Schepisi set up a GoFundMe website to help raise funds. The fundraiser has already raised more than $54,000.

"When we faced Brad's unexpected lung cancer diagnosis, it felt like a storm had descended upon our lives. This was an unexpected change to what we thought was our dreams for our future, but in the darkness, we found the strength in our family's love to weather the toughest of battles, because together, we are the calm within the storm," said Nora. "Our hope is that someone else who is touched by a sudden diagnosis of stage 4 advanced cancer knows that there is understanding, hope, and love in the middle of the chaos"

Throughout his battle, Schnure has been very open, sharing his journey on his Facebook page in hopes of shedding light on this disease and helping others going through something similar.

He added that he heard from multiple doctors that anyone consistently coughing for longer than 3 weeks should see a doctor and advocate for a chest X-ray or CT scan.

"There is hope in the process, I think," said Schnure. "I am just trying to beat the clock so that I am here for when the next advancement happens. Also, I want to make the most of all that time to support my family and enjoy my kids."

For more information on Schnure's journey visit facebook.com/bschnure or to donate visit gofundme.com/f/brad-schnure.

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