Local Lung Cancer Survivor Travels to Washington, D.C. to Share Personal Story at Milestone Event

In celebration of a decade of powerful advocacy and progress, Rison resident and lung cancer survivor, Melinda McKnight, will travel to Washington, D.C., for the American Lung Association’s 2025 LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day on April 9. 

This event marks 10 years of amplifying the voices of lung cancer survivors, caregivers, and advocates from across the U.S. who have shared their personal stories with lawmakers to drive lifesaving change.

McKnight is a passionate advocate of low-dose CT scans because they saved her life. She began getting annual scans in 2015 at her doctor’s recommendation. Doctors discovered a small nodule (0.3mm) on her lung and monitored annually. In 2023, the nodule had grown to 8 mm. Three months later, it had doubled to 1.7 cm. A biopsy revealed she had adenocarcinoma, a type of non-small cell lung cancer. Later that year, she had a lobectomy and is now cancer free.

“I am so blessed to have had people in my life advocating for low-dose CT scans as early as 2015. Had that not happened, I wouldn’t be enjoying football games, dance recitals and many other events of my six grandchildren,” said McKnight. “More people need to know about low-dose CT scans. Only a small percentage of those who are eligible are getting scans. I would like nothing more than to see low-dose CT scans become as common as mammograms or the many other preventive healthcare treatments.”

She added: “If a person meets the criteria, in my opinion it's the best thing they can do for themselves and most of all their family. I was my mother's caregiver when she died from lung cancer in 2014. It's a devastating experience.”

During Advocacy Day, McKnight will speak with the Arkansas Congressional Delegation to share her personal experience with lung cancer and explain why protecting access to quality and affordable healthcare through Medicaid and protecting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health are vital for people with or at risk for 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.

LUNG FORCE launched in 2014, and the first LUNG FORCE Advocacy took place in 2016. Since its inception, LUNG FORCE has played a pivotal role in transforming the landscape of lung cancer research, treatment and awareness. Over the past 10 years, the American Lung Association has:

• Shared the inspiring stories of more than 1,000 individuals affected by lung cancer with lawmakers, putting a human face to the nation’s leading cause of cancer death.
• Increased annual lung cancer research funding through the National Institutes of Health by 142%, surpassing $500 million annually.
• Contributed to a remarkable 44% increase in the five-year lung cancer survival rate, providing hope to countless patients and families.
• Paved the way for 67 new lung cancer therapies approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, expanding treatment options and improving outcomes.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day and support Melinda McKnight, the Lung Association invites Arkansas 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.