LUNG FORCE Heroes
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Camila B. At 25 years old, I was focused on becoming a physician. Lung cancer was the last thing I expected to hear when I walked into a doctor's office.
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Kathleen L. A diagnosis of lung cancer was never on my radar.
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Mary T. My doctor had been urging me to get a CT scan. After months, I decided to go, and lo and behold, there was a spot on my right lung.
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Patty S. I smoked for many years, stopping in 2007.
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Terry S. My lung cancer was found during a yearly breast MRI.
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Maureen M. I saw an ad on television about the Smart Lung Scan. I had quit smoking more than 17 years ago and wondered whether I qualified. At my annual wellness checkup, I asked my doctor if it would be a good idea to get one.
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Dawn D. In the spring of 2024, I had an injured shoulder. While getting an MRI, a mass was seen in my right lung.
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Rob H. In August 2025, two incredible women who mean the world to me and my family — Leighann “LaLa” (Hamilton) Boatman and Frances “Muffy” Pope — were diagnosed with lung cancer within days of each other.
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Krista M. I’m 63 years old and a former smoker—I smoked for 20 years but quit over 30 years ago.
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Lynda V. My brother died at the age of 70 of lung cancer, and my mother at age 92.
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Jeff S. I am here today asking you to protect the NIH, CDC, and improve access to quality, affordable healthcare coverage.
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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.
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Lisa C. I was ashamed that I smoked; and that I had caused my lung cancer.
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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.
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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.
