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When we try to characterize small cell lung cancer (SCLC), we typically define it by its stage, either extensive stage or limited stage. We don't often delve further than that; that's about as specific as we'll hear. However, you may be surprised to learn that there are actually 4 unique subtypes of small cell lung cancer, each with its own characteristics. The reason these aren't often discussed, though, is that for a while we weren't certain what this information meant. Yes, there are differences among these 4 types at the cellular level, but what does that really mean for the person living with the disease? In recent years, though, this has begun to change. Scientists have been working to uncover how these small differences can potentially have a great impact on the future of personalized medicine and small cell lung cancer. Here, we'll discuss a little bit about each of these 4 subtypes, and how the treatment landscape may shift to accommodate them in the future.

To differentiate the types of SCLC, we have to look at the different proteins that are inside of the cancer cells. These special proteins can help determine how the genes of the cancer cells express themselves, which in turn can impact how these cells grow, reproduce, and react within the body. By taking a blood sample and looking at the circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to examine these factors, doctors and scientists can see what type of subtype a person's SCLC is.

SCLC Subtype-A

These are SCLC type cancers where there is a high expression in the cells of a factor called ASCL1. This is the most common subtype, found in between 40% and50% of cases. Some early research shows that this subtype might be more susceptible to a type of drug called BL-2 inhibitors. These drugs work by blocking a protein inside of the cells that can then cause the cell to die. Some research suggests that this sub-type, after treatment with chemotherapy, may convert to sub-type I (discussed lower down).  

SCLC Subtype-N

This subtype means that a person's SCLC cells have a lot of the factor NEUROD1. This factor is important to helping certain specialized cells grow and function within the body, and it is found in high levels in many cases of extensive-stage disease. This subtype is found in about 20% of SCLC cancers. While this subtype can mean the cancer is a bit faster in how it grows and spreads, it is also more sensitive to treatment with a type of drug called Aura-Kinase inhibitors. These are still in trials for SCLC, and we are monitoring the progress of this research for future uses.  

SCLC Subtype-P

Having the subtype of SCLC-P indicates that your cancer has higher levels of the POU2F3 factor. This is a factor used by specialized cells that line the respiratory and digestive systems. In healthy cells, this helps them to recognize foreign bodies and protect against them, but when mutated, it can drive the subtype of SCLC. It's a bit rarer than those described above and is in 12% to 15% of cases. Fortunately, research is beginning to show that this type of SCLC may respond better to a class of experimental drugs called PARP inhibitors. These drugs, though still in trial, have been shown to stop the damaged DNA in cancer cells from replicating, preventing the spread of more cancerous cells.  

SCLC Subtype-I

Finally, our last class of SCLC subtypes is SCLC-I. This stands for inflamed SCLC, and indicates that, rather than having higher levels of certain proteins, the cells have a lot of inflammation occurring, and a high level of immune cells within the environment. Because of this, research has shown that this subtype may have a stronger response to immunotherapy agents than other small cell lung cancers. This is a less common class of SCLC, found in about 10-15% of cases.  

It is important to know that, when looking at how these sub-types may affect a person's prognosis, there was no difference noted in the length of a person's overall and progression free survival. This means that having one subtype over another doesn't seem to have an impact on how long they will live, or how serious their disease might be. As shown above though, it can impact what treatment types may be more effective, and can help oncologists think about which types of treatment they should try first. It can also useful when a person is considering clinical trials that they may want to join.

If you want to learn more about managing small cell lung cancer and what options are available, please reach out to us. GO2’s HelpLine is a free, one-on-one service that connects patients and caregivers with experienced staff who can provide guidance, resources, and, most importantly, hope!  

Our Small Cell Lung Cancer Program can help to provide information and support at every step of the way, while LungMATCH can give you one-on-one, personalized information about treatments and trials for your cancer.  

References:

1. Baine MK, Febres-Aldana CA, Chang JC, Jungbluth AA, Sethi S, Antonescu CR, Travis WD, Hsieh MS, Roh MS, Homer RJ, Ladanyi M, Egger JV, Lai WV, Rudin CM, Rekhtman N. POU2F3 in SCLC: Clinicopathologic and Genomic Analysis With a Focus on Its Diagnostic Utility in Neuroendocrine-Low SCLC. J Thorac Oncol. 2022 Sep;17(9):1109-1121. doi: 10.1016/j.jtho.2022.06.004. Epub 2022 Jun 24. PMID: 35760287; PMCID: PMC9427708.

2. Dahlstrom, Erin. “Advances in Small Cell Lung Cancer Classification.” MD Anderson Cancer Center, 25 Nov. 2024, www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/advances-in-small-cell-lung-cancer-classification.h00-159702279.html.

3. Schwendenwein A, Megyesfalvi Z, Barany N, Valko Z, Bugyik E, Lang C, Ferencz B, Paku S, Lantos A, Fillinger J, Rezeli M, Marko-Varga G, Bogos K, Galffy G, Renyi-Vamos F, Hoda MA, Klepetko W, Hoetzenecker K, Laszlo V, Dome B. Molecular profiles of small cell lung cancer subtypes: therapeutic implications. Mol Ther Oncolytics. 2021 Feb 6;20:470-483. doi: 10.1016/j.omto.2021.02.004. PMID: 33718595; PMCID: PMC7917449.

4. The Asco Post Staff. “Study Identifies Four Unique Subtypes of Small Cell Lung Cancer.” Ascopost.com, 2026, ascopost.com/news/january-2021/study-identifies-four-unique-subtypes-of-small-cell-lung-cancer/. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.

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Donna Thompson is a 3-time survivor of early-stage, non-small cell lung cancer, thriving more than a decade since her first diagnosis. After 2 surgeries to remove portions of her right lung, she carries forward an experience that deepens her commitment to lung cancer awareness, mental health advocacy, and building supportive communities. Donna shares her story to inspire hope, reduce stigma, and elevate survivor voices. Her advocacy spans education, outreach, and research collaboration within the lung cancer community. She speaks at wellness and community events, using her experience to empower others navigating illness and recovery. Professionally, Donna is the director of Human Resources and a SHRM Certified HR leader, known for leading with empathy and practical insight, and supporting people through complex workplace challenges. She finds strength - literally and emotionally - through faith, fitness training, and time in nature. For her, movement is medicine, and advocacy is a calling rooted in compassion and resilience.

Donna remembers the exact moment everything changed. It was September 2015, and she went to the emergency room for something else entirely. Her blood sugar was dangerously high, and she wasn’t feeling right. They ran tests, monitored her, and sent her home. The next day, the ER doctor called her and said the radiologist saw a mass in her lung and that she should have it checked out right away.  

At 45 years old, and having no smoking history, lung cancer wasn’t on her radar. It wasn’t on anyone else’s either.

“Everyone I talked to was like, ‘You’re too young. You’ve never smoked. This is probably not lung cancer.’”

But within 5 weeks, after scans, a biopsy, and what she still calls “the longest 5 weeks of my life,” Donna had her answer. It was lung cancer after all.  

"The best possible situation”

Looking back, Donna sees the moments that led to her lung cancer diagnosis a little differently.

“I always say that was God getting my attention, whispering to me in the quiet, still moments, she said.

The tumor was stage 2 (II) and operable. In many ways, it was the best-case scenario for a diagnosis no one expected. Her surgical team moved quickly.

“She told me, ‘This is the best possible situation. It’s in a good location. We can take it out.’”

By the end of November, just 2 months after that ER visit, Donna had surgery, and for a moment, it felt like the worst might already be behind her.

When the plan changes

Initially, Donna was told she wouldn’t need chemotherapy. The surgery had been successful, her margins were clean, and everything pointed in the right direction.

Then the pathology report came back. It showed that her tumor was more complex than expected. It was an unusual form of adenocarcinoma that didn’t behave in typical ways. Her case was sent to multiple cancer centers, and the recommendation shifted.

“I remember my surgeon calling me herself,” Donna said. “She said, ‘I told you one thing, and now it’s changing, and I need to explain that to you.’”

A second opinion confirmed it: chemotherapy was recommended. Donna agreed, but her body had other plans.

When treatment becomes the crisis

“Every time I got chemo, I ended up in the ER,” she said. “Something was always going wrong.”

After just two treatments, it was clear that this wasn’t sustainable. Her oncologist made the call.

“He said, ‘Your body can’t handle this. We’re done.’”

It was a moment that carried both relief and uncertainty. The treatment meant to protect her was, instead, putting her in danger. And so, once again, Donna adjusted.

“I didn’t survive to be basic.”

In the months that followed, Donna made a decision that would shape everything that came next.

“I didn’t survive to be basic,” she said.  

Instead, she poured herself into her health and started working with a trainer, changing her diet, and reclaiming a sense of control over her body.

“I got into the best shape of my life,” she said. “I came off medications. My A1C went back to normal. Everything changed.”

But the transformation wasn’t just physical. It was also about identity.

“The cancer gave me more than it took from me,” she said. “I learned who I am, how strong I can be, and what I really need in the world. I learned what and who are important to me. It put such a clear focus on what I want for my life.”  

Finding community and belonging

Still, parts of the experience felt isolating.

“I kept meeting people, and they were all stage 4 (IV),” she said. “I felt like, am I even supposed to be here?”

She was grateful for her outcome, but that gratitude came with a quiet tension.

“I didn’t want to take up space in their groups,” she said. “But I still needed support too.”

And there was something else. “I didn’t see anyone who looked like me.”

It wasn’t until years later, through social media connections, introductions, and small group conversations, that Donna found what she had been missing: a close-knit circle of Black women who truly understood her experience.

“We started meeting regularly, talking, and supporting each other,” she said. “There’s something about being with people who understand you completely without you having to explain that changes everything. They know what they did for me, and what we do for one another. Finally, I had community.”

A second diagnosis, and a different reality

For nearly 7 years, Donna focused on moving forward, rebuilding, and holding onto the belief that she had come through something and grown because of it.

Then, in 2022, everything shifted again. This time, it wasn’t a symptom that sent her back to treatment. It was a scan.

“My scans went from showing nothing to showing a tumor the same size as my first diagnosis,” she said. “I was just so shocked because I wasn’t expecting anything.”

As Donna began to piece together what had happened, the story became even more complicated. The tumor hadn’t appeared overnight. When her new care team reviewed her prior scans, they discovered that the growth had been visible as far back as 2018, but it had been missed.

The radiologist who originally read the scan had not flagged it, and even more concerning, it became clear that her oncologist had never reviewed the images directly.  

“That was the moment for me,” Donna said. “I realized no one had really been looking out for me the way they should have. I felt like a number, and I’m a relationship person. This matters to me.”

It was a turning point, not just medically, but emotionally. What initially felt like a sudden recurrence became something harder to process. It was a missed opportunity for earlier intervention.

Another treatment crisis

This time, Donna’s treatment plan included a targeted therapy designed specifically for EGFR-positive lung cancer that would allow her to take a lower dose of chemo, which they hoped she would tolerate better. It felt like progress and a better path.

But after a second surgery, adjuvant chemo, and introducing the new treatment, her body began to struggle again in a different and even more frightening way, this time in response to the targeted therapy.

After multiple attempts to adjust the dosage, the new medicine ultimately led to kidney failure, a serious complication that forced yet another shift in her care and another redefinition of what “moving forward” would look like.

It was also the moment that changed how Donna understood her own story.

“I used to say that cancer gave me more than it took from me,” she said. “And I believed that until my kidneys failed. Recovering from that took nearly all I had. I’m still trying to fully move on from how traumatic that year was.”

“I also have to remind myself how remarkable it was that I overcame this,” she said. “My nephrologist said my recovery was miraculous, and it does feel like a total miracle now.”

Living in the in-between

Today, Donna is once again in a place that many people with lung cancer know all too well: waiting.  

In July 2025, after recovering from kidney failure, her care team radiated 2 new spots. They chose radiation because it was the gentlest option for her. Recent scans have shown new nodules that Donna and her care team are just watching, for now.  

“They’re watching them and trying to decide what to do next,” she said. “And with my treatment history, not every option feels like a good one.”

It’s not a crisis. But it’s not clarity, either, and Donna finds herself struggling with living in this place of uncertainty.  

“I like to have a plan, and I like to know what we’re going to do. I’m finding it very hard for me to just wait and see.”

Still choosing more

Through her diagnosis, treatment, recurrence, and all the unexpected turns in between, Donna has held onto a simple mindset:

“I didn’t survive to be basic.”

It’s a phrase that stuck with her early on and has continued to shape how she moves through each new chapter. And for Donna, that means continuing to choose a full life, even in the unknown.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with lung cancer, know that you're not alone. Our HelpLine provides free, one-on-one support to people impacted by the disease. Call 1-800-298-2436 or email support@go2.org to connect. Our team is available Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. ET/6 a.m.-2 p.m. PT.

At the 2026 GO2 for Lung Cancer Voices Summit in Washington, DC, Christine M. Lovly, MD, PhD, FASCO, Division Chief of Thoracic Medical Oncology at City of Hope, shared a powerful message: the future of lung cancer care is being rewritten, and real progress is being made faster than ever before.

In her keynote, “Precision, Progress, Partnerships, and Possibility in Lung Cancer,” Dr. Lovly highlighted how science, advocacy, and collaboration are transforming outcomes for people living with lung cancer. “Every person in this room has a lung cancer story,” she said, recognizing those living with lung cancer, caregivers, advocates, and researchers working together to drive change.

That shared purpose is what continues to move the field forward.

A turning point in lung cancer treatment

Not long ago, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment options were limited. In the early 2000s, people with advanced NSCLC lived an average of about 8 months.

Today, we are in a different era.

Advances in precision medicine, which is treatment that is tailored to the individual person, have transformed NSCLC care. It was once thought that lung cancer was a single disease, but through biomarker testing, we can now identify subtypes of NSCLC.  When a person is found to have certain biomarkers such as EGFR, ALK, KRAS, and others, targeted therapies are available. These treatments target specific biomarkers and stop lung cancer from growing and spreading.

The impact is profound. Many people with advanced lung cancer are now living for years with good quality of life and outcomes that once felt out of reach.

But Dr. Lovly emphasized that continued progress depends on ongoing investment in federal research. She expressed concern about how funding reductions and uncertainty at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) could affect the pace and stability of cancer research. When studies are paused or clinical trials are delayed, progress can slow for patients who are waiting for new treatment options. Sustained federal investment in research plays a critical role in supporting clinical trials, which drive continued advances in lung cancer care.

The role of immunotherapy in lung cancer progress

In addition to targeted therapies, immunotherapy has reshaped what’s possible for many people living with lung cancer.

These treatments work by helping the immune system recognize and attack cancer. A type of immunotherapy called a checkpoint inhibitor has greatly improved outcomes and has expanded treatment options across lung cancer stages.

Still, Dr. Lovly emphasized that progress cannot be measured by numbers alone.

“Life lived is equally as important,” she said, a reminder that quality of life must remain central to every advance.

At GO2, we know this is what matters most. It means more time, better days, and meaningful moments for people living with lung cancer and their families.

Ongoing challenges in lung cancer care

Despite this progress, too many people are still diagnosed at later stages, when treatment options are more limited.

Dr. Lovly outlined several key challenges that continue to impact outcomes:

• Low lung cancer screening rates, leading to late diagnoses

• Limited access to biomarker testing and expert care

• Health differences based on location and income

• Drug resistance,  as cancer cells adapt and survive treatments  

• Gaps in research funding that limit progress

Despite causing more deaths than many other cancers , lung cancer research has historically received less funding.  Dr. Lovly highlighted this as a major barrier to continued progress as it requires urgent action from all of us.

The future of lung cancer research

There is also real momentum and reason for hope.

New treatments, including next-generation KRAS inhibitors and antibody-drug conjugates, are expanding options for people.

Emerging tools like liquid biopsy are making it easier to detect and monitor cancer through a simple blood test, helping bring precision medicine to more people.

At the same time, AI and new clinical trial designs are helping people access new treatments faster.

The science is moving forward quickly, but as Dr. Lovly made clear, discovery alone isn’t enough.

Impact through advocacy

“Innovation is not our barrier. Implementation is,” Dr. Lovly said.

We already have many of the tools needed to save lives. The challenge is making sure every person with lung cancer, no matter who they are or where they live, can access them.

Where we go from here: More resources, more action

To continue progress, Dr. Lovly emphasized the need for more resources. Top priorities include:

• Expand access to lung cancer screening  

• Increase research funding  

• Improve clinical trial participation  

• Ensuring a variety of people join research studies

• Support research on survivorship

• Strengthen the cancer care workforce  

These priorities reflect where the lung cancer community must focus next and where we can make the greatest impact.

The story is still being written

Dr. Lovly closed with a powerful reminder that reflects the heart of the lung cancer community:

“Every treatment we use today exists because people chose hope over fear and participated in research that helped all of us learn.”

The story of lung cancer is still being written. And as Dr. Lovly emphasized, people with lung cancer and advocates are not simply part of that story. They are helping lead it.

The lung cancer community can continue to make a difference by contacting lawmakers and supporting policies that accelerate research, expand access to care, and improve outcomes. Take action today.

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 27, 2026 — GO2 for Lung Cancer (GO2) is proud to announce Jennifer W. Li, MD, of Johns Hopkins University, as the recipient of the 2026 Conquer Cancer – GO2 for Lung Cancer Young Investigator Award in memory of Debbie Consiglio.

Presented in collaboration with Conquer Cancer®, the ASCO Foundation, the Young Investigator Award (YIA) supports promising early-career physicians during the final years of training as they transition to faculty appointments and pursue innovative clinical oncology research. The mentored award supports physician-scientists conducting research under the guidance of experienced scientific mentors and is designed to help investigators transition from fellowship training into independent academic careers. Applications are accepted from investigators across all areas of cancer research from both the United States and around the world.

Through this one-year grant, Dr. Li will lead a research project titled, “Integrative blood-based proteomic and circulating tumor DNA dynamics for early immunotherapy response and toxicity detection in advanced lung cancer.” Her work aims to improve the ability to predict which patients will benefit from immunotherapy and identify those at risk for serious treatment-related side effects using minimally invasive blood-based testing.

Immunotherapy has transformed treatment for many people living with lung cancer, yet significant challenges remain. While some patients experience durable responses, others do not benefit, and approximately 10–20% develop severe side effects that can significantly impact quality of life. Dr. Li’s research seeks to combine analyses of protein and circulating tumor DNA collected before and during treatment to better understand treatment response and toxicity in real time.

“GO2 is proud to support emerging researchers whose work has the potential to directly improve the lives of people living with lung cancer,” said GO2’s Co-Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Patient Officer Danielle Hicks. “Dr. Li’s research reflects the kind of patient-centered innovation that is urgently needed to help patients and their care teams make more informed treatment decisions, better manage side effects, and ultimately improve outcomes. Through our longstanding collaboration with Conquer Cancer, we remain committed to advancing research that brings more personalized and compassionate care to the lung cancer community.”

Dr. Li is a medical oncology fellow at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University, where her research focuses on precision oncology and biomarker development in lung cancer. Her work integrates multi-omic and liquid biopsy approaches to improve the prediction of treatment response, toxicity, and clinical outcomes. She plans to pursue a career as an academic thoracic oncologist.

“I am incredibly honored to receive this award,” said Dr. Li. “This support will help advance our work to better understand why patients respond differently to immunotherapy and why some develop severe side effects. My hope is that this research will contribute to more personalized, safer, and more effective treatment strategies for people living with lung cancer.”

Dr. Li studied biological engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she worked on microfluidic platforms for single-cell analysis to support individualized cancer care. She earned her medical degree from the University of Florida and completed her internal medicine residency at Brown University. Her current research combines molecular profiling, liquid biopsy, and data-driven approaches to advance personalized cancer treatment.

GO2 proudly supports Conquer Cancer’s Grants & Awards Program and the next generation of lung cancer researchers. Through this collaboration, grants have funded innovative studies exploring topics such as radiation response, biomarker detection, and novel treatment strategies. The program reflects GO2’s commitment to encouraging emerging investigators to pursue careers dedicated to improving outcomes for people impacted by lung cancer.

Conquer Cancer will formally recognize this year’s award recipients during the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting.  

The 2026 Conquer Cancer – GO2 for Lung Cancer Young Investigator Award in memory of Debbie Consiglio is supported by Natera.

A diagnosis of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) can bring a wide range of emotions. If you’re feeling uncertain, afraid, or overwhelmed, connecting with others who have faced similar experiences can offer both comfort and strength. Hearing from people who have been living well with SCLC for years is a powerful reminder that your story is still unfolding.

Connection can take many forms, including support groups, one-on-one peer support, or simply reading others’ stories. Each of these forms of connection can help ease feelings of isolation and provide a sense of shared understanding. You are not alone in this. Others are walking this path too, and when asked, here’s what they want you to know.

Take it one step at a time

Focus on today - this appointment, this decision, this moment. Thinking too far ahead can be overwhelming when there is so much unknown in the path ahead. Try to stay in the present and remember that progress isn’t about having everything figured out. It’s about continuing forward one step at a time. There will be good days and hard days. Both are part of the process.

Advocate for yourself

Your healthcare team matters, and you are the most important person on that team. Your thoughts, feelings, and perspectives guide your treatment and care decisions. Your healthcare team should listen and respect you. Whether it’s asking questions, exploring clinical trials, or discussing needs, your voice matters.

• Ask questions until you understand your diagnosis and treatment options.  

• Consider getting a second opinion from a thoracic oncologist (lung cancer specialist).  

• If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts and consider a change.  

Let people in (even when it’s hard)

Support can make a huge difference, but accepting help isn’t always easy. The offer of help from friends and family is one way they show their love for you. Accepting their help allows them to be with you through this experience and has the power to strengthen relationships and deepen bonds.

Take care of your body and keep moving

Self-care, even on tough days, can help you both physically and mentally. Even small actions matter.

• Spend time in nature

• Go for a walk when you can  

• Eat and hydrate as best you’re able  

• Follow your care team’s guidance  

• Do something you enjoy

Be honest about how you feel and focus on what you can control  

Positivity helps, but it doesn’t mean ignoring fear, frustration, or sadness. It’s okay to feel all of it. What matters is not getting stuck there. Give yourself permission to have hard moments, then try to find your way forward, step by step.

There’s a lot you can’t control with cancer. But there are things you can:

• How you spend your time  

• Who you surround yourself with  

• How you approach decisions  

Some people find strength in learning everything they can. Others focus on daily routines or small goals. There’s no single right way, only what works for you.

Find meaning where you can and hold onto hope

Many people describe a shift in perspective after diagnosis. Time feels different. Priorities become clearer. That means something different for everyone. For you, it could mean:

• Spending more time with loved ones  

• Helping others facing cancer  

• Finding purpose in advocacy or community  

• Setting goals or challenges for yourself and meeting them

Discover what brings you peace, laughter, and enjoyment, and then do more of that.

SCLC is serious. It’s okay to acknowledge that. But hope has a definite place here, not as denial, but as possibility. Treatments are improving. Research is ongoing. And your experience is your own. You don’t have to have everything figured out. You just keep moving forward, one step, one decision, one day at a time.

If you would like to learn more about SCLC, have questions, or need support, our SCLC program can help. Contact our free HelpLine at 1-800-298-2436 or email support@go2.org.

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Michelle Bos-Lun is a third term state representative in the Vermont General Assembly. She lives in Westminster with her husband. She has 3 adult children and 2 grandchildren. Michelle is an enthusiastic vegan cook and baker, a mushroom forager, a hiker, and an advocate for lung cancer.  

When Michelle returned home from a trip to Nepal last year, she soon found herself unable to get out of bed. At first, she thought she had jet lag, but when her symptoms worsened, she ended up in the hospital.  

What followed was a whirlwind of tests and uncertainty that led to a diagnosis she hadn’t expected: scrub typhus, a rare and potentially life-threatening infection she had contracted while traveling.

But the story didn’t end there. In the process of trying to understand why she was so sick, doctors ordered a chest X-ray and saw something there that they couldn’t explain.

Three weeks and even more tests later, Michelle received a second surprising diagnosis: lung cancer.  

A diagnosis she never expected

Like so many others, lung cancer wasn’t something Michelle imagined would happen to her until it did.  

“Before my diagnosis, I knew of one person who had lung cancer without a smoking history,” she said. “So, while I knew it was possible, it didn’t seem at all likely. But lots of people aren’t good candidates for lung cancer, and yet it still finds us.”

Still, even in the face of a stage 3B (IIIB) diagnosis, her reaction was not what many might expect.

“I’m pretty pragmatic about things,” she said. “When something comes up, I want to learn all about it and figure out what I can do to have the best results with a situation that isn’t ideal.”

That instinct to learn, adapt, and move forward has shaped everything that’s followed  

“I won the lottery”

After her initial diagnosis, Michelle entered a waiting period, one filled with a lot of questions, but few clear answers. Her oncologist couldn’t yet tell her what kind of lung cancer she had or how it would be treated. The outlook he shared at that point was sobering.

But there was one 1 possibility that offered hope, and that was a genetic mutation.

Her doctor told her, “If you have a mutation, there are some really good targeted therapies.”

Two weeks later, the call came. Michelle had ALK-positive lung cancer.

“He told me I won the lottery,” she said. “I had the best one with the best treatment.”

Within days of starting the targeted therapy, Lorbrena (loralatinib), her persistent cough, which was her only noticeable symptom, had disappeared. A few months later, her first scan showed her cancer had been reduced by nearly 50%.

“My doctor actually said, ‘This is even better than I would have expected,’” Michelle said.

A whole-person approach

From the beginning, Michelle approached her diagnosis the same way she has approached much of her life by integrating different perspectives, experiences, and tools. Having spent part of her adolescence in Taiwan, and as a long-practicing Buddhist, she was already comfortable holding multiple ways of thinking at once.

“My life has been a mixture of East and West since I was 12,” she said. “So, when I got cancer, it made sense to include a variety of different resources and approaches.”

Her treatment plan reflects that. Alongside her targeted therapy, Michelle has built a daily routine that supports her body in other ways:

• Tai Chi twice a day to improve circulation and manage neuropathy

• Walking several miles each day

• Bi-weekly acupuncture

• Regular lymphatic massage

• A nutrient-dense, plant-based diet including daily kale smoothies, large salads, and roasted vegetables with whole grains

“I feel as healthy as I’ve ever been. Except I have cancer,” she said.  

It’s a paradox she doesn’t shy away from. And it’s one she’s actively working to sustain.

“The lorlatinib gets credit for 75% of my healing, and my kale smoothies get the other 25%,” she joked.  

Choosing hope—on purpose  

Michelle is quick to acknowledge that everyone responds to a diagnosis differently. But for her, hope is not something she has to force; it’s something she naturally gravitates toward.

“I think you can choose to look at the hardest parts, or you can look at the possible good outcomes,” she said. “For me, it’s more satisfying to look at the positive. I try to find the best-case scenarios and aim for those.”

Even before her diagnosis was confirmed, she made a conscious choice not to dwell in pessimism.

“Before my lung biopsy, I thought, I don’t think it’s very likely that this is lung cancer, so I’m not going to worry about it,” she said. “And then when it turned out to be cancer, I said, ‘Okay, so when can we figure out how to treat this?’ I could have spent that time scared, but being scared wouldn’t have changed the outcome, only how I experienced the time leading up to it. That’s sort of how I approach everything.”

Finding community and perspective

Like many people diagnosed with a biomarker-driven form of lung cancer, Michelle quickly found community among others living with ALK-positive disease.

“I feel like I’ve been welcomed into this club that none of us wanted to join,” she said. “But since we’re here, we’re there for each other.”

Through that community, she found not only information, but perspective, including examples of people living 10, 15, even 20 years after diagnosis. Their stories helped her understand the full range of what’s possible and where she might fit within it.

“Somebody would say, ‘my husband is 21 years out’, and I thought, what? We can live 21 years with this? Knowing that some people can live quite a long time made me feel like, okay, then I can make it too,” she said.

Not waiting anymore

If there is 1 theme that runs through Michelle’s story, it’s this: don’t wait.

After her diagnosis, she began thinking about the people she hadn’t seen in years and the friendships that had drifted with time and distance. She immediately set out to rectify that. Her first trip was to reconnect with a close friend she hadn’t seen in decades.

“I just thought, I don’t want to wait,” she said. “Why did I already wait 30 years? I’m not doing that again.”

Now, her “bucket list” isn’t about places; it’s about people – reunions, visits, and time spent together.

“I hope I’m going to be around for a long time,” she said. “But in case I’m not, I don’t want to wait to spend time with the people who matter most to me. I want to see them now.”

Turning experience into action

As a state legislator in Vermont, Michelle already had a platform. After her diagnosis, she chose to use it in a new way. From the very beginning, she has spoken publicly about her experiences, using them as an opportunity to raise awareness about lung cancer, and especially the importance of early detection.

“I thought, maybe I can help somebody else,” she said. “If I can help educate someone, then go ahead, use my story.”

After her story appeared on the front page of her local paper, she learned that at least two people went to their doctors to ask for chest X-rays. For Michelle, that was enough.

“That’s the whole point,” she said.

She is also working to connect her personal experience with broader public health efforts, including initiatives that emphasize nutrition as a core component of care.

“When people eat healthy food, it helps keep them healthy,” she said. “I’m a living example of that.”

Moving forward

Less than a year into her diagnosis, Michelle’s life looks both familiar and entirely new. She is still working, still advocating, and still showing up for her family.

But she is also living with a deeper sense of urgency and intention.

“When you get lemons, make lemonade,” she said. “Well, I’m making some lemonade.”

Only in Michelle’s case, it’s likely organic, and paired with a kale smoothie.

A lung cancer diagnosis can bring a lot of questions, emotions, and uncertainty. GO2 for Lung Cancer’s free HelpLine connects you with trained specialists who can provide support, answer questions, and help you find resources along the way. Whether you’re newly diagnosed, in treatment, or navigating survivorship, you don’t have to face it alone.

Call us at 1-800-298-2436 or email support@go2.org to learn more.

For Janaki and Harsha, their wedding wasn’t just about celebrating a new chapter together; it was also an opportunity to honor the past, give back, and make a meaningful impact for others facing lung cancer.

Janaki’s connection to lung cancer is deeply personal. Her late husband, Kartik, was diagnosed with stage 4 (IV) lung cancer at just 28 years old while he was still a third-year internal medicine resident. Through a targeted clinical trial for his EML4/ALK mutation, he was able to continue working for several years before passing in 2015 at the age of 34. His journey continues to inspire Janaki’s commitment to supporting others impacted by the disease.

This was a second marriage that brought together 2 families, not starting from scratch. Material gifts didn’t feel necessary, but they knew their loved ones would still want to give something. That’s when they decided to turn their wedding into a fundraiser in honor of Kartik. “Many of our friends and family were familiar with Kartik’s journey,” Janaki said. “They were more than happy to donate, and several told us they thought it was a great idea.”

Lessons learned along the way

While their fundraiser was a success, Janaki reflects on what she might do differently.

“We didn’t initially go through GO2 because we were trying to get donations matched through companies,” she explained. “But in retrospect, it would have been easier, and likely more effective, to set up a GO2 fundraising page and link it directly on our wedding website.”

Planning ahead, she noted, could have streamlined the process and avoided fees from other fundraising platforms.  

But what surprised them most was the incredible generosity of their community. “We were amazed by how much money we were able to raise.”

Tips for turning your own wedding into a fundraiser

For couples considering a similar approach, Janaki offers practical advice:

• Start early. Wedding planning gets busy, so give yourself time to set things up properly.  

• Keep it simple. A direct link to a fundraising page makes it easy for guests to contribute.  

• Spread the word beyond the website. Share your fundraiser at pre-wedding events or gatherings. Many guests won’t check every page on a website.  

• Create in-person opportunities. If you’re hosting events leading up to the wedding, like bridal showers, engagement parties, etc, consider setting up a donation box.  

• Ask for help. Friends and family are often eager to support both your wedding and your cause.  

Continuing the impact

Even beyond their fundraiser, Janaki continues to connect others to GO2’s resources and recently referred a family friend for support.

“I love seeing what the organization is doing for patients and in research,” she said. “It’s providing hope and that’s one of the most important things when facing lung cancer.”

Make your celebration count

Inspired by Janaki and Harsha’s story? You can turn your own milestone—whether it’s a wedding, birthday, or special event—into a powerful way to support people impacted by lung cancer.

Start your own fundraiser benefiting GO2 and help bring hope to patients and families who need it most.  

Learn more about how you can create your own fundraiser for GO2 for Lung Cancer. 

For Amita Jain, MD, lung cancer is not just a diagnosis. It’s a lived experience that has shaped her life across multiple roles as a physician, a patient, a daughter, a caregiver, and an advocate.

Her family’s lung cancer story spans generations. In July 2018, her mother, Usha Jain, a retired UC Berkeley professor, was diagnosed with stage 4 (IV) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) despite having no smoking history. Just 6 months later, Amita herself would receive the same diagnosis.

While both women faced advanced disease, their treatment paths diverged. Usha underwent chemotherapy and immunotherapy for nearly 2 years before stopping treatment and transitioning to routine scans. That period (often described clinically as “watch and wait”) felt anything but passive to her family.

“It was hard to feel as though we were ‘doing nothing,’” Amita recalls.

Turning to navigation for answers

As both a physician and a caregiver, Amita understood medicine, but even she found the complexity of lung cancer care overwhelming.

Navigating next steps after treatment, understanding emerging options, and keeping up with rapidly evolving research can feel like a full-time job, especially for families already carrying the emotional weight of a diagnosis.

So, Amita reached out to GO2's LungMATCH navigation program.

“I called the navigators and furnished my mom’s tumor’s genetic profile,” she says. “They reached out a day later with information on some trials for which she might qualify.”

Although her mother ultimately chose not to pursue clinical trials, the impact of that interaction was profound.

“While we did not take action on the options that the navigator provided, the information was empowering,” Amita explains. “It really helped us understand the ‘lay of the land’ in her particular situation.”

Bridging the gap between information and understanding

Even for someone with medical training, the experience revealed an important truth.  Access to information is not the same as understanding it.

“Navigating is complex and scary, and getting all the information is difficult if you are not an oncologist,” Amita says. “The navigator that I spoke with was both professional and prompt. That information made me feel as though we understood our options—and that was extremely reassuring.”

For patients and families, that reassurance can be transformative.

A lung cancer diagnosis often brings not only fear, but also a sense of powerlessness. Decisions feel urgent; stakes are high, and the volume of information can be paralyzing.

“The navigator can serve as a bridge to knowledge,” Amita says. “Knowledge is power. Having a diagnosis of lung cancer can be shocking, but more importantly you do feel a bit powerless and overwhelmed. The navigators serve as a resource and lifeline.”

The invisible work of navigation

What many patients don’t see is the depth of work happening behind the scenes.

Navigators are constantly reviewing evolving research, identifying clinical trials, interpreting biomarker data, and translating complex medical information into something patients can actually use to discuss with their care teams.

“Keeping up on the information is a full-time job that most of us are not trained to do,” Amita says.

That expertise becomes especially critical at moments of uncertainty, like when treatment ends, and the path forward is unclear.

In those moments, navigation doesn’t just guide decisions; it restores a sense of control.

Strengthening navigation for the future

Stories like Amita’s mother’s underscore the critical role navigators play, not just in coordinating care, but in empowering patients and families with clarity, confidence, and connection.

To support and strengthen this role, GO2 for Lung Cancer partnered with leading experts to develop a comprehensive resource for those on the front lines of patient care.

The Lung Cancer Navigator: A Guide for Nurses and Allied Health Professionals textbook is designed to equip health professionals with the knowledge and tools they need to guide patients through every step of the lung cancer experience, from diagnosis to survivorship.

By investing in navigator education, we can ensure that more patients and families experience what Amita describes so clearly: the shift from feeling overwhelmed and uncertain to being informed and empowered.

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GO2 for Lung Cancer today applauds House passage of H.R. 2319, the Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act, an important bipartisan step toward final enactment this Congress.

We commend the leadership of Representatives Brendan Boyle (D- 2- PA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-1-PA). We also thank Speaker Mike Johnson (R-4-LA), Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-1-LA), and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-8-NY) for advancing the bill under suspension and recognize the leadership of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, including Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-2-KY) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-6-NJ).

This milestone builds on more than a decade of advocacy and research, including work with the Connors Center for Women’s Health and Gender Biology at Brigham and Women's Hospital, which first identified critical gaps in understanding lung cancer in women and called for a coordinated national response.

While smoking rates have declined, lung cancer diagnoses, particularly among women, have not kept pace. This underscores a critical truth that lung cancer can affect anyone, including people with no known risk factors. Yet this misconception continues to drive stigma and delay diagnosis. The key unanswered question is why younger, otherwise healthy women with no traditional risk factors are developing lung cancer.

“The placement of this bill on the House Suspension Calendar reflects strong bipartisan recognition that we must do more to address lung cancer in women,” said GO2 for Lung Cancer’s Interim Co-CEO Danielle Hicks. “Once implemented, this legislation will improve understanding of genetic, hormonal, environmental, and behavioral factors and strengthen prevention, screening, and treatment strategies for everyone impacted by lung cancer.”

“The advancement of this bill is about more than research funding, it is about correcting a dangerous and outdated narrative,” said GO2 for Lung Cancer’s Senior Director of Government Affairs, Elridge Proctor. “We are still seeing lung cancer in younger women with no known risk factors. That means critical scientific gaps remain, and patients are paying the price.”

By advancing a more complete understanding of disease risk beyond risk factors, the bill helps dismantle stigma at its root, replacing blame with evidence and ensuring that all patients are recognized, studied, and served.

GO2 for Lung Cancer urges the Senate to swiftly pass S. 1157 and conference with the House on the two versions to bring the bill to the President’s desk. We stand ready to work with federal agencies and leading patient advocacy organizations to ensure this legislation is implemented and delivers meaningful progress for everyone living with lung cancer.

Join us in taking action. Contact your Senator, every message counts!