LUNG FORCE Heroes | American Lung Association

Alexis A. My mother, Valerie, passed away in July 2024 after a 16-month battle with lung cancer.
Kimberly L. Eight years ago, I was diagnosed with stage 3 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. I was a 42-year-old married mother of five daughters, ranging in age from 9 to 24, and working full-time caring for a severely disabled gentleman.
Kelly L. I’ve been a smoker since I was a teen, I’m now 55. September of 2023 I thought I had bronchitis and took myself to the ER. I was found to have stage 3L SCLC.
Shannon D. In July of 2023, my mom was diagnosed with Advanced Small Cell Lung Cancer. Since then, she has endured multiple radiation treatments, chemo and immunotherapy.
Rita R. Lung cancer upended my world two decades ago when my mother received her shocking diagnosis – shocking because doctors had spent months treating her for bronchitis that turned out to be an advanced adenocarcinoma!
Jill F. In April of 2018, after a 10-day trip, I experienced wheezing and shoulder pain. As a smoker at the time, I would often need steroid treatments for bronchitis.
Sara G. In 2019 I was 39, and looking forward to my 40th birthday. I wanted it to be a healthy milestone, so I joined a kickboxing bootcamp. By the end, I felt amazing but thought I had pulled a muscle in my chest.
Patt P. A random flyer in the mail, in 2016, advertising “Body Scans” for a reasonable price started my cancer journey.
Melinda M. I started receiving Low Dose CT scans in 2015 because my insurance started paying for it and my primary care physician highly recommended I get them.
Barbara F. The VA noted a spot during X-ray for pneumonia in 2016.
Kathy M. Lung cancer’s impact on my family was devastatingly swift and profound.
Sharon A. I was recently diagnosed with lung cancer (carcinoid tumor) and had 1/3 of my lower left lung removed in May, 2024.
Karen U. At the age of 60, while out of town in June 2021, I woke up one morning with pain in my upper back which I attributed to sleeping poorly on a pull-out couch.
Elizabeth G. I am a lung cancer survivor. My cancer was discovered incidentally in a CT scan done for shortness of breath.
Thomas R. On April 20th, 2020, I had half of my right lung removed due to lung cancer.

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