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

Kansas City, Missouri resident is a lung cancer advocate living with lung cancer. On Monday, April 7, Papenfuhs will travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with her members of Congress as part of the Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day on April 9. Papenfuhs will join more than 40 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.

Papenfuhs’ cancer journey began in 2016 after she saw a random flyer in the mail about body scans. The scan detected a fuzzy spot on her right lung and her doctor suggested they keep an eye on it. Eight years later she went in for lab work and scans and doctors discovered the fuzzy spot had calcified. After a biopsy on the calcified spot doctors confirmed she had lung cancer. She began chemo in October 2023 and had surgery in February 2024. Her current treatment plan requires her take an oral pill for the next three years with lab work and scans every three to six months. Papenfuhs was symptom free when diagnosed with lung cancer and credits early detection for saving her life.

“The random flyer for the body scan started this medical journey, which probably afforded me life-saving information. I am a 72-year-old, very healthy woman and had never been in the hospital except for having children, 40+ years ago. I was symptom free and totally unaware that something foreign was growing in my right lung. I am a survivor of lung cancer due to early identification,” said Papenfuhs.

During Advocacy Day, she will speak with Senators Hawley and Schmitt and Congressman Graves and their staff 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.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day and support Patt Papenfuhs, the Lung Association invites Missouri residents and those in Greater Kansas City 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.