Survivor Spotlight: Jeff M.

Written by Jeff’s wife, Rhonda:

“Jeff was a firefighter/paramedic and a farmer and had no known risk factors for developing lung cancer. In the fall of 2015, my husband Jeff was diagnosed with stage 4 ALK-positive lung cancer that had already spread to his bones and brain at the age of 56.

We were shocked because of public education failures to tell the story of lung cancer today. We were LUCKY that our rural oncologist had recently been to a seminar that discussed biomarker testing and the ALK positive mutation was found.

Five years later, we know the significance of research, Jeff is still farming 600 acres by himself, he has quality of life and we have celebrated many minutes, hours, years since the diagnosis! I often imagine where lung cancer would be today with more community education and research. So many people like Jeff could be saved! There have been great strides in lung cancer due to research for testing and treatment, but I am positive there could be a cure or this could become a managed disease status if federal funding was restored.”