Kansas Lung Cancer Advocate Travels to Washington, D.C. to Share Personal Story with Lawmakers

Gardner resident Ann Howard is a lung cancer advocate living with lung cancer. On Monday April 7, Howard will travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with her members of Congress as part of the American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day on April 9. Gardner will join more than 40 other LUNG FORCE Heroes from across the nation who have also been impacted by lung cancer. This is the tenth year for the nationwide event that amplifies the voices of lung cancer survivors, caregivers, and advocates to share their personal stories with lawmakers to drive lifesaving change.

In February 2023, Howard got COVID-19 and couldn’t shake the COVID cough even with several rounds of antibiotics. Doctors x-rayed her lungs to rule out pneumonia but instead found a mass in her lower right lung. This happened just weeks before Howard was set to leave for a trip of lifetime to Costa Rica. She went on the trip and had a CT scan when she returned. After a few more scans and tests doctors diagnosed her with stage 3B adenocarcinoma. Doctors aggressively attacked the tumor which she nicknamed “Edith” and surgically removed it along with two lymph nodes. Following the surgery Howard underwent two more rounds of chemotherapy and ten rounds of immunotherapy. She is thankful for the care she received and knows others are not as fortunate.

“I was also lucky to have health insurance and the ability to work full time while undergoing treatment. However, even with insurance, I will probably never be out of debt, having accrued more than $20,000 in medical debt,” said Howard. “I highly recommend early lung scans to aid in early detection. The need for proactive health screenings is more important now than ever.”

Gardner leaves for Washington, D.C. the morning of Monday April 7 and hopes to educate people about the importance of access to health care and insurance. During Advocacy Day, she will speak with Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall and Representative Sharice Davids and their staff to share her personal experience with lung cancer.

This year’s event is particularly crucial as proposed federal budget cuts and policy changes threaten to undermine progress in lung cancer research, prevention and access to affordable care. LUNG FORCE Heroes will share their stories and advocate for protecting lifesaving research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), critical public health prevention and protections at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the importance of Medicaid in providing health coverage for people with and at risk for lung cancer.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day and support Ann Howard, the Lung Association invites Kansas residents to join the movement by visiting LUNGFORCE.org/AdvocacyDay and:

• Calling your Senators and Representatives to echo the voices of LUNG FORCE Heroes.
• Sending an email to Congress to advocate for continued support of lung cancer research and healthcare access.
• Engaging with lawmakers on social media to raise awareness and inspire action.

For more details about the 2025 LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day or the American Lung Association’s ongoing efforts to end lung cancer, visit LUNGFORCE.org.