JoAnn Berridge was misdiagnosed, repeatedly. Doctors thought she had allergy-related post-nasal drip; then they thought she had acid reflux. After a year of trial and error and a persistent cough, her primary care physician ordered a chest X-ray in September 2016 and found a 5 cm tumor that had metastasized to one adrenal gland and several places in the bone. Following comprehensive biomarker testing, she was diagnosed with stage 4 EGFR exon 19 lung cancer. Her oncologist was supportive from the get-go and told her, “You are healthy, you are vital, you are active. This is going to go a long way toward helping you survive this.”

We talked to Berridge about her involvement in the lung cancer community, including her participation in GO2 for Lung Cancer’s Living Room series, her work as a Phone Buddy, and how she stays so positive.

How did you find out about the Lung Cancer Living Room?

I have a sorority sister who is a lung cancer survivor and was part of the initial stages of the Living Room. Because I live in Belmont (nearby to GO2 for Lung Cancer’s San Carlos office), I could go in person to the Living Room meetings and participate in those every month until COVID hit and we had to pivot to virtual sessions.

What makes the Lung Cancer Living Room special?

There are two reasons the Living Room is so special: it is so personal and also incredibly informative.

On a social level, it’s connection. There’s a camaraderie with people who are going through what you’re going through. It’s very upbeat. When we met in person, everyone had the opportunity to share their stories and we could follow everyone’s stories, how they were getting better, or progressing, or stable. It becomes a community of people striving in the same direction and sharing their information.

It’s also medically enlightening because they have speakers from throughout the lung cancer community. We learn so much to help us understand the disease, understand the possible therapies, and understand the new research. It enables us to be better advocates for ourselves with our doctors.

Tell us about your experience as a Phone Buddy.

The Phone Buddy program is an opportunity to share what I know and have experienced. I have four phone buddies, and they are eager to learn about everything I have to share. I even sent them Bonnie Addario’s book (The Living Room, A Lung Cancer Community of Courage), which they love.

Finally, how do you stay positive?

I just don’t think about it. Our life pre-pandemic included a lot of traveling and a love of holidays, birthdays, and family gatherings. I mentor community college students to help them in transferring to four-year institutions, something I’ve been doing since shortly after I was diagnosed. And I have a group of about seven very close friends within the GO2 for Lung Cancer community, and we’ve been video chatting throughout the pandemic. I also still have a close social circle with my college sorority sisters. And of course, there’s my family. I’m very busy keeping up with all these people and my students and my Phone Buddies, so I never think about having cancer.

Find community from the comfort and safety of your home by joining our Lung Cancer Living Room community.