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

Omaha resident Frank Sierawski is a lung cancer advocate living with lung cancer. On Monday April 7, Sierawski will travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with his members of Congress as part of the American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day on April 9. Sierawski 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.                                                                                             

Sierawski’s cancer journey began in 2014 when the father of three young boys was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer at just 34-years-old. He went to the doctor due to a worsening cough that he attributed to cold season and didn’t think much about. He had a chest x-ray which led to a five-month chain of events that ended with a lung cancer diagnosis. The cancer had spread to his lymph nodes, spine and ribs and would eventually reach his brain.

“It came out of nowhere. I didn’t smoke; I wasn’t exposed to radon. There was no clear explanation. If this could happen to an otherwise healthy 34-year-old with three young kids—who were 6, 4, and 2 at the time—it could happen to anyone,” said Sierawski. “That’s why protecting Medicaid funding is so critical. If I didn’t have access to quality health care, I might have made different decisions—like postponing that chest X-ray and letting the cancer spread further. That’s what people will do if they lose access to Medicaid.”

The diagnosis hit hard, but Sierawski stayed positive through all the uncertainty, fear and sadness. Sierawski is now going on 11 years of survivorship and credits breakthrough cancer therapies, research and advancements in life-saving treatments for saving his life. He 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, he will speak with Senator Deb Fischer, Senator Pete Ricketts and Representative Don Bacon, and their staff to share his 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 healthcare. 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 Frank Sierawski, the Lung Association invites Nebraska 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.