LUNG FORCE Heroes | American Lung Association

Jeff S. I am here today asking you to protect the NIH, CDC, and improve access to quality, affordable healthcare coverage.
Steve A. I was a smoker for about 55 years. I get an annual physical every year. My doctor is very thorough, and he sent me for a CT scan since I had smoked for so long. It came back negative, which was great.
Lisa C. I was ashamed that I smoked; and that I had caused my lung cancer.
Elaine L. When something bad happens to someone you love very much, it’s personal. When my 77 year old Mom was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2009, lung cancer became personal for me.
Valerie V. "Valerie, you have lung cancer." These words came through the phone, from the pulmonologist I had met with recently, and hit me like a ton of bricks.
Rose W. I’m 71 and diagnosed this year with NSCL cancer, adenocarcinoma, EGFR (mutation), non-smoker.
Kathleen L. A diagnosis of lung cancer was never on my radar.
Carla P. I was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in March 2018. My internist suggested I have a screening CT scan of my lungs due to my history of smoking. The scan revealed a tennis ball size mass in my left upper lung and a nickel size mass in my lower rig
Shane C. My whole life growing up, I was playing sports — it was all I thought about. I ended up going to college on a cross country scholarship. I ran for four years at Lincoln Memorial University, setting records and serving as team captain.
Dorie V. I grew up in a smoking family. Back in those days, there was no education on the dangers of smoking. In fact, cigarette advertising campaigns on TV and in print were the norm. After many years of smoking, I decided to quit completely 25 years ago.
Clinton B. I climb for my father who we lost in 2013 and my mother who died in 2017 - my father died from complications due to COPD and my mother died from lung cancer.
Cheryl W. At my annual checkup in 2024, my primary care physician recommended and ordered a low-dose CT scan. I was afraid of what the test might find, since I started smoking as a teenager.
Krista S. In December 2020, I developed a lingering cough. Some days it seemed to improve, so I didn’t get it checked out. It continued into January, when I developed a raspy voice for no apparent reason.
Janice W. In January 2020, I was diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer. My local surgeon didn’t know what it was, so he referred me to Stanford.
Victoria N. This picture was taken after Thanksgiving 2024, when our mom was diagnosed with stage 4 adenocarcinoma and an EGFR genetic mutation.

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