Shared Stories

My primary care doctor ordered a scan for me many years ago, after I had been smoking for about 40 years.

The Lung Association has been a great help to me, and I’m spreading the word.

Hello! My name is Michael, I’m 64 years old, and I live in Massachusetts. I’m also asthmatic. Here’s my backstory.

I was diagnosed with COPD in 2010—chronic bronchitis with early-stage emphysema. I smoked for at least 25 years and grew up in a household with a parent who smoked.

During a visit to New York City, I was on a subway that got delayed underground. They asked everyone to exit temporarily, but with no clear place to go, we were stuck.

I am 39 years old and live in Southeast Texas, where the humidity is high, and the air is heavily polluted by numerous refineries.

I dedicated over 20 years to nursing, proudly serving in various roles from ICU to hospice care. Now retired due to disability, I remain passionate about health and advocacy.

I have stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer with an EGFR mutation. I was diagnosed on July 4, 2019, and ironically, it wasn’t because of any symptoms—I found out due to a serious car accident.

I’m writing today to share why getting a CT lung scan is so important.

Over the course of 19 months, extensive small-cell lung cancer slowly took the breath away from my best friend—my dad, Barry. My role as a daughter gradually shifted into that of a caregiver.

My mother, Maureen, has struggled with back problems for years, enduring five back surgeries over time.

My name is Natalie, and in 2020, at the age of 33, I was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.

Not everyone gets a second chance at life. Some of us are more fortunate than others, and I consider myself one of the lucky ones. I’m alive, I’m happy, and I’m here to share my story.

My story is about lung cancer. My brother, Ricky, was born deaf.

I’ll admit, I wasn’t always a fan of vaccines. However, at 65, my perspective has changed.