Indiana Lung Cancer Survivor Travels to Washington, D.C. to Ask Congress for Increased Research Funding

Indiana resident and lung cancer survivor, Monique French, met with her members of Congress today during the American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. As a part of the nationwide event, French joined more than 40 other people across the country who have been impacted by lung cancer to ask lawmakers to support $51 billion in research funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), $11B in funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and to support and protect Medicaid.

French, a mom of three, was diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer in November of 2021 and underwent surgery and radiation.

"I had a cough that wouldn't go away, and thank God that I listened to my body," said French. "All I was thinking about is how do I get home to my little boys? How do I make sure that they don't see that mommy's sick?"

During Advocacy Day, French spoke with U.S. Senators Todd Young and Mike Braun to share her personal experience with lung cancer and explain why investments in public health, research funding and quality and affordable healthcare are important to her.

The American Lung Association launched LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day in 2016 to ask members of Congress to support robust, sustainable, and predictable federal funding increases for lung cancer research, prevention and quality and affordable healthcare. As a part of Advocacy Day, LUNG FORCE Heroes have succeeded in helping increase NIH lung cancer research funding by over 115%. Since 2016, more than 50new therapies have been approved by the FDA to treat lung cancer—giving more hope to those impacted by this disease. In 2022, Heroes successfully urged Congress to extend funding for tax credits so more than three million Americans were able to keep affordable healthcare coverage through the federal and state marketplaces.

French encourages others in Indiana to advocate for lung cancer research and healthcare protections by contacting their members of Congress, which they can do at Lung.org/AdvocacyDay. Learn more about French’s story and the LUNG FORCE initiative at LUNGFORCE.org.