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The absence of tobacco use suggests alternative carcinogenic mechanisms may contribute to lung cancer development in younger individuals.

SAN CARLOS, Calif., April 17, 2026 — The Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI) and GO2 for Lung Cancer today announced results from a new study presented at the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting showing that lifestyle patterns and dietary exposures could play a role in tumor mutations among young adults with lung cancer. The results, drawn from the ongoing Epidemiology of Young Lung Cancer study, may help uncover modifiable risk factors in a population where lifestyle behaviors traditionally associated with lung cancer, such as smoking, fail to explain disease onset.  

This project is conducted by researchers from California Northstate University College of Medicine, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, and USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of Keck Medicine of USC. The work is supported by AstraZeneca, the Beth Longwell Foundation, Genentech, GO2 for Lung Cancer, and Upstage Lung Cancer.  

There is growing concern that lung cancer is biologically distinct in adults under 40, with 84% of patients carrying targetable mutations. These historically younger patients are predominantly female and never-smokers, which raises questions about other potential environmental contributors.  

The new analysis examined data from 187 patients, assessing dietary patterns and food exposure in conjunction with mutation subtypes. Key findings include:  

• Diet quality and pesticide-linked foods. Patients with EGFR and fusion mutations reported better overall diet quality than the U.S. population average. However, their higher intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, which are often associated with elevated pesticide residue, may represent an overlooked environmental risk factor.  

• Unexpected tobacco associations. In the fusion pathway group (ALK, ROS1, RET, NTRK), 55.6% were never-smokers, challenging conventional links between these mutations and tobacco exposure. Conversely, one-third of EGFR pathway patients reported a smoking history, higher than anticipated.  

• Potential connection to oral contraceptives. Oral contraceptive use was consistently elevated across all biological pathway groups. Although most patients reported 1-5 years of use, the median duration was 10 years due to a subset of long-term users. This matters because the pesticides can act as endocrine disruptors that interact with estrogen receptors seen in the lung cancers most prevalent in the young lung cancer population.  

The study team notes that further research is needed to clarify how dietary pesticide exposure interacts with genetic pathways and whether reducing exposure could lower risk.  

“These findings demonstrate that there is still so much to learn about this terrible disease, particularly as it occurs in young people,” said ALCMI Executive Director and COO Richard Erwin. “Our hope is that this is just the beginning of this research and that others will join us in exploring how and why lung cancer is presenting in the younger patient population.”  

“This work represents a critical step toward identifying modifiable environmental factors that may contribute to lung cancer in younger adults,” said Jorge J. Nieva, MD, a thoracic oncologist with USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Our hope is that these insights can guide both public health recommendations and future research into prevention.”  

“Too many young people diagnosed with lung cancer are left asking, ‘how did this happen?’ especially when they have no known risk factors,” said Chief Patient Officer and Co-Interim CEO of GO2 for Lung Cancer Danielle Hicks. “This research reflects what patients have long suspected. There may be risk factors beyond their control. It’s a critical step toward understanding risk, improving early detection, and giving patients clearer answers.”  

These findings would not be possible without the vision of ALCMI Co-Founder Bonnie J. Addario, who passed away in 2025. She long suspected an unknown environmental link could be contributing to this disease and was steadfast in her determination to search for answers for lung cancer patients.  

“While more research is needed to confirm these findings, this is the first clear evidence that lung cancer in younger patients may develop through a different biological pathway,” said Tony Addario, ALCMI co-founder and husband of the late Bonnie Addario. “This discovery is both scientific and deeply personal. Bonnie’s vision has guided this research from the very beginning, and her legacy continues in the hope we bring to every person facing lung cancer, and in the lives we may one day prevent from ever being touched by it.”  

Disclosure:

Dr. Nieva has received consulting payments from AstraZeneca and Genentech.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is 1 of the 2 main types of lung cancer and accounts for about 15 out of 100 (15%) cases. For decades, treatment for SCLC included chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery if diagnosed in early stages.

It wasn’t until 2018 that the first immunotherapy for SCLC was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This was an important advancement in treating SCLC, as immunotherapy works very differently from other treatment types. In October 2025, another breakthrough occurred in the field of immunotherapy when a new type of immunotherapy, a T-cell engager, was approved for SCLC.

These advancements bring hope and optimism to SCLC and expand treatment options. Understanding immunotherapy, how it works, and when it may be used helps you have informed conversations with your healthcare team and stay involved in decision-making. This is important because being knowledgeable allows you to advocate for what matters most to you.

What is immunotherapy?

Your immune system defends your body against germs and diseases that can cause illness. Most of the time, it can tell which cells are healthy and which are not. This enables the immune system to target disease and germ cells without harming healthy cells.

When your immune system detects cancer cells, it goes to work destroying them. Sometimes, it has trouble finding cancer cells because they can appear like healthy cells. Immunotherapy helps your immune system find and attack cancer cells.

Types of immunotherapy

Currently, there are 2 main types of immunotherapies used in SCLC: checkpoint inhibitors and T-cell engagers. They each work in very different ways and are used in different points in treatment.

Checkpoint inhibitors

How do they work?

Cancer cells can hide from the immune system by attaching themselves to immune cells. Cancer cells can attach to immune cells at an area called a checkpoint. This sends a signal to your immune system that the cancer cell is healthy, which prevents the immune system cell from attacking it. A checkpoint inhibitor works by blocking cancer cells from attaching to immune system cells, allowing the immune system to better attack the cancer.

When are they used to treat SCLC?

Imfinzi (durvalumab) and Tecentriq (atezolizumab); however, recent clinical trials have broadened their approved uses in different ways.

• Limited-stage SCLC (stages 1, 2, 3): Imfinzi (durvalumab) can be used after chemotherapy and radiation treatments are complete and may be continued for up to 2 years.
• Extensive-stage SCLC (stage 4): Imfinzi (durvalumab) or Tecentriq (atezolizumab) can be used in combination with chemotherapy. Imfinzi may be continued alone after chemotherapy is completed for as long as it is effective and well-tolerated. This is called maintenance therapy. Tecentriq (atezolizumab) may also be used as maintenance therapy either alone or combined with the chemotherapy drug Lurbinectedin.

T-cell engagers

How do they work?

T-cell engagers, such as Imdeltra (tarlatmab), work like a matchmaker. They attach to a T-cell (a type of immune cell that fights germs and diseases) and a cancer cell, bringing them close together. This connection helps your immune system find and attack cancer cells.

When are they used to treat SCLC?

T-cell engagers are FDA-approved for use in extensive-stage SCLC that has spread during or after chemotherapy.

Immunotherapy side effects

The side effects you may experience from immunotherapy will be unique to you. Some common side effects are mild, while others can be more severe. Immunotherapy boosts your immune system's activity, which can sometimes impact healthy cells and organs, leading to inflammation. This requires prompt medical attention.

Ask a member of your healthcare team what common and more serious side effects may occur with your specific type of immunotherapy and know when you should seek immediate medical care.

The future of immunotherapy in SCLC

Immunotherapy is not 1 single treatment; it’s a growing toolbox of therapies. In fact, there are many clinical trials currently underway that focus on:

• Expanding how the currently approved immunotherapies are used to improve outcomes, including using them in earlier stages or combined with other treatments
• Developing new immunotherapy treatments that work differently from the current options
• Exploring ways to boost the body’s immune system and impact the tumor to make it easier to target and attack Questions for your healthcare team

It’s important to talk to your healthcare team about all your treatment options, including immunotherapy. The following questions may be helpful to ask in your conversation:

• Is immunotherapy right for me?
• What side effects should I be aware of with the type of immunotherapy recommended for me?
• Are there any clinical trials that may be right for me?

To learn about our SCLC program or clinical trials, connect with our free HelpLine by calling 1-800-298-2436, emailing support@go2.org, or filling out our online form.

From March 1–3, 2026, lung cancer advocates, researchers, survivors, and partners from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C., for the annual GO2 for Lung Cancer Voices Summit. This year’s summit marked a milestone moment for the lung cancer community, bringing together passionate advocates to elevate patient voices and push for policies that accelerate research and improve outcomes for people affected by lung cancer.

GO2 was proud to partner with organizations and advocates across the full spectrum of the lung cancer community—biomarker groups, research foundations, advocacy organizations, and patient-led initiatives—to make our collective voice impossible to ignore.

This unprecedented collaboration not only amplifies our shared mission but also demonstrates the strength, resilience, and expertise driving progress in lung cancer today.

We are deeply grateful to the advocates who traveled from across the country to meet directly with lawmakers and share their experiences. Their voices help ensure that lung cancer remains a national priority and that progress continues for the millions of individuals and families impacted by this disease.

By the numbers

This year’s summit was a milestone event in many ways. Highlights include:

• 140 meetings with legislative offices on Capitol Hill

• 139 attendees

• 29 states represented

• 63,705 social media impressions and 4,915 engagements  

Our key priorities

Advocates urged Congress to take action on several policy priorities that support the lung cancer community.

• Our request for Fiscal Year 2027
  Advocates called on Congress to fully restore and increase funding for the Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP) to $60 million within the Department of Defense’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP). This investment is critical to reversing the impact of the FY 2025 full-year continuing resolution, which:
  
  • Enacted a 57 percent reduction in overall CDMRP funding
  • Eliminated dedicated funding for the LCRP in FY 2025 ‍
• Support for federal research funding
  The lung cancer community also urged policymakers to support the highest possible funding levels for key federal medical research agencies, including:
  
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  • Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)
  • Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Sustained investment across these agencies is essential to drive the scientific discoveries and innovative treatments that improve survival and quality of life for patients.

Keynote speaker highlights the promise of progress

GO2 for Lung Cancer was honored to welcome Christine M. Lovly, MD, PhD, FASCO, as the summit’s keynote speaker. Dr. Lovly is the division chief of thoracic medical oncology and a professor in the Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research at City of Hope, one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States.

In her remarks, Dr. Lovly highlighted the remarkable progress made in lung cancer research and treatment over the past two decades while emphasizing the continued need for sustained funding and strong advocacy. She also spoke about the promise of future breakthroughs and the power of collaboration across the lung cancer community.

Survivor spotlight: shining a light on lung cancer

A powerful moment of the summit featured lung cancer survivor and advocate Dusty Donaldson, who shared her personal experience with lung cancer and the impact advocacy can have on driving change.

Through the Shine a Light on Lung Cancer® initiative, the presentation highlighted the importance of elevating patient voices, honoring those affected by lung cancer, and inspiring action to advance research, support, and hope for everyone impacted by the disease.

Advocacy award recognition

At the Voices Summit, GO2 recognizes and celebrates individuals who have made a meaningful impact in the lung cancer community.

This year, Bruce Dunbar received the 2026 Lung Cancer Voices Summit Advocacy Leadership Award for Excellence in Community Engagement & Awareness for his outstanding commitment to advancing progress for people affected by lung cancer. A lung cancer survivor and volunteer state team leader, Bruce has been a dedicated advocate and an active member of the Voices Summit Planning & Advisory Committee.  

Raise your voice year-round

Advocacy does not end when the Voices Summit concludes. The lung cancer community can continue to make an impact year-round by contacting lawmakers and supporting policies that accelerate research, expand access to care, and improve outcomes.

Every message, every meeting, and every story shared helps build the momentum needed to drive lasting change for people affected by lung cancer. Take action today.

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Pictures from the 2026 Lung Cancer Voices Summit

Our professional photographer captured many special moments at this year’s Voices Summit. Please review our photo album from the event, and feel free to download, share or post your favorite image to your social media network. Don’t forget to tag us too:

Facebook: GO2 for Lung Cancer

Instagram: @go2forlungcancer  

X: @GO2forLungCancr

LinkedIn: GO2 for Lung Cancer

Thank you to our 2026 Lung Cancer Voices Summit sponsors 

AstraZeneca, Merck, AbbVie, Daiicho-Sankyo, Genentech, Grail, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Novocure, Regeneron, Lilly, Natera, Takeda Oncology  

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By the time many people with cancer begin treatment, the barriers they face, including confusing medical information, fragmented care, transportation challenges, and financial strain, have often been building for weeks or even months.

This is why patient navigation programs were created. Navigators help patients schedule appointments, understand treatment options, coordinate care among multiple providers, and connect with resources that address financial or logistical barriers. For people facing complex healthcare systems, navigation can make the difference between timely treatment and dangerous delays.

But there is a question we rarely ask: Are these programs being designed around the needs of the people most affected by cancer disparities?

A recent scoping review conducted by researchers at GO2 for Lung Cancer and published in an ASCO journal examined cancer navigation studies across the United States and Canada. The goal was simple: to understand what kinds of support patients say they need and whose voices are shaping the research guiding these programs.

The findings revealed several consistent challenges. Across the studies reviewed, patients most often reported difficulties with communication with their healthcare providers, emotional and psychological support following diagnosis, and basic access to care. Many patients described struggling to understand complex medical information, coordinate appointments across multiple specialists, or manage the emotional toll of a cancer diagnosis.

Yet the most striking finding was not the needs themselves. It was who was missing from the research.

Despite experiencing some of the highest cancer mortality rates in North America, African American and American Indian or Alaska Native populations were rarely represented in the studies reviewed. Only a small portion of the research included these groups, even though they face well-documented barriers to screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

At the same time, many studies failed to report key factors that strongly influence cancer care experiences, including whether patients lived in rural or urban areas or whether they faced financial hardship. Without this context, it becomes difficult to fully understand the barriers patients encounter while navigating cancer care.

The timing of these findings is critical. Health systems across North America are increasingly investing in patient navigation programs to reduce disparities and improve outcomes. But if the research guiding these programs does not reflect the communities most affected by cancer disparities, there is a risk that well-intentioned solutions will miss the barriers that matter most.

Some critics may argue that expanding navigation programs should be the priority, regardless of who is represented in the research. Navigation programs have indeed shown tremendous promise in improving care coordination and helping patients move through complex healthcare systems.

But expanding programs without ensuring that the evidence reflects the experiences of the most vulnerable populations at risk, reinforcing the very disparities these programs are meant to solve.

Cancer care does not always require complicated solutions. Sometimes the first step is simpler: making sure the people most affected by the problem are the ones guiding the conversation about the solution.

Until cancer navigation research consistently reflects the voices of the communities most affected by cancer disparities, the healthcare system will continue trying to solve problems without fully understanding them.

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Jeanne A. lives in Hollister, CA where she is the proud guardian of her 7-year-old grandson, Joey, who she has been raising for the past 3 years. A lifelong adventurer who raised her children on Maui, HI where her grandmother was born, she still feels called to the islands, and Joey will make his first visit there this Easter. A retired social worker and current astrological teacher and counselor, Jeanne’s life is anything but quiet. She believes lung cancer may simply become 1 chapter in her story, and hopes that by sharing it, she can bring comfort to others.

An otherwise ordinary day

On a warm July afternoon in 2021, Jeanne was standing on a ladder in her backyard picking apricots when she coughed up blood. It startled her, and was unusual for her body, but she wondered if this was simply what she should expect at 72 years old since she otherwise felt just fine. Still, she called her closest friend, a nurse, and within an hour they were sitting together on Jeanne’s porch, talking it through.

Coughing up a blood clot, they ultimately agreed, was not something to ignore.

“You’d better get your affairs in order”

At the small local hospital, Jeanne was given a bed, a gown, and a long wait. Her bloodwork came back mostly normal, but hours later, when someone was finally available to read her CT scan, she was given much more shocking news: there was a 2.5-inch mass in the upper right lobe of her lung.

“You’d better get your affairs in order,” the doctor said.

Jeanne snapped back immediately, “my affairs are in order,” she said, but she was still stunned by the news. As she walked out of the ER with a brand-new diagnosis, she noticed the looks of pity on the staff’s faces — and felt something else take hold instead: resolve.

Finding the right team

Jeanne was referred to an oncologist in Salinas, CA, but she opted to go to Stanford instead. There, she met with Dr. Joseph Shrager, Professor and Chief of Thoracic Surgery, and someone she found to be calm, direct, and skilled. Early imaging suggested that the tumor might be stage 3 (III) lung cancer. Given its size, doctors worried it had already spread. There was also a small chance it could be something else entirely like Valley Fever.

The wait was agonizing, made worse by Jeanne’s history with lung cancer. Her father had died of lung cancer before his 40^th birthday when she was just 5 years old. The disease had hovered in the background of her life, but now it was inside her body.

When the results came back, the answer was clear. It was not Valley Fever.

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“You will Heal. It will take a while.”

Jeanne cried for a week. Then, reaching for reassurance in a place that had brought her comfort in her life, she turned to tarot cards, a practice she viewed less as prediction and more as intuition. Each time she asked what would happen, the message was the same: You will heal. It will take a while.

She didn’t fully believe it. But it helped her get through the days.

By early August, there was even more clarity as scans showed that the cancer had not spread to her lymph nodes or brain. She did, however, have a massive tumor in her lungs which Jeanne had begun calling “the Death Star.” Surgery to remove the tumor and her upper right lung lobe was scheduled for September 1.

The operation lasted hours, and Jeanne woke up with an incision beneath her right breast and drain tubes emerging from her side. She spent 5 days in the hospital, watching light move across the coastal foothills through a massive window. Healing was slow, and when Jeanne finally went home, she took with her a cough that would linger for 18 more months.

A new reality: Stage 2 (II) lung cancer

Pathology confirmed a new diagnosis: stage 2 (II) non-small cell lung cancer. Jeanne started chemotherapy nearly immediately and completed 4 rounds between October 2021 and January 2022. It was brutal for her, and during that time, she was bedridden more often than not. Her weight dropped, and her hair fell out in clumps. “It kicked my ass,” she says plainly, and she remembers very little of that time now.  

Her closest friend, Annie, was there through it all. Annie drove her the 90 minutes each way to Stanford, sat beside her during infusions, brushed out the tangles when Jeanne was too weak to do it herself, and bore witness to the physical and emotional toll with quiet steadiness.  

All the while, the messages from her spiritual guides remained steady. You are healing.

A different kind of hope

In January 2022, Jeanne transitioned from chemotherapy to immunotherapy as part of a clinical trial led by Dr. Joel Neal. Part of what drew her to the trial was the promise of close monitoring for 5 years and follow up for the rest of her life.  

Immunotherapy was easier on her body than chemotherapy, though not without its own challenges, including unrelenting fatigue. It was worth it, though. By March 2022, there was no detectable cancer DNA in her bloodstream. Clinically, Jeanne was cancer-free, even though she wasn’t yet ready to believe it herself.

Her final immunotherapy infusion took place in February 2023. By that spring, the fog began to lift. By summer, her hair and weight had returned. And slowly, finally, Jeanne began to come back to herself.

Learning to believe it

For a long time, Jeanne practiced saying the words before she ever fully believed them. “I survived lung cancer.”

Some people say survivorship begins the moment you’re diagnosed. Jeanne understands the sentiment, but for her, accepting it took time. “Just like healing, embracing this took a while,” she says.

Then, 1 day, she looked in the mirror and finally believed it. By June, she had started telling friends, strangers, and especially the staff at Stanford Oncology, “I survived lung cancer.”  

“Saying this gives real joy to people working in the field,” she noticed.

Now, Jeanne describes herself as having been “washed ashore from a wave I did not see coming and never imagined I would survive.” Her scans continue to look good. Her strength is still building. Her guides remain close. You will heal. It will take a while.

She knows now that they were right.

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.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for about 15 out of every 100 (15%) lung cancer cases. After decades of very few changes in the treatment of SCLC, there are now more treatment options, which have shifted the standard of care and bring renewed hope. Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with SCLC or are further down your treatment path, it’s important to know all of your treatment options so you can make informed decisions about your care.  

SCLC stages

SCLC treatments are approved for use at different stages of the disease. While many cancers are divided into 4 stages: 1 (I), 2 (II), 3 (III), and 4 (IV) according to the size and location of tumors, SCLC is usually divided into 2 stages.  

• Limited-Stage SCLC: Includes stages 1-3 (I-III), when the cancer is on one side of the chest and has not spread very far.

• Extensive-Stage SCLC: Includes stage 4 (IV), when the cancer has spread beyond one side of the chest to other lung areas, lymph nodes, and/or distant organs.

Your specific treatment options will be based on the stage of lung cancer, your previous treatments, the location of lung cancer in the body, and your overall health.

Limited-stage SCLC treatments

In limited-stage SCLC, approved treatments may include one or more of the following:

• Chemotherapy + Radiation: This is the most common treatment for limited-stage SCLC. Giving chemotherapy and radiation at the same time often works better, though you may receive them one after the other, depending on your overall health.

• Chemotherapy kills fast-growing cells in the body, like cancer cells, and is given in repeated cycles, often over several months. Two chemotherapy medicines (etoposide plus either carboplatin or cisplatin) are combined to treat SCLC.

• Radiation therapy (chest radiation) uses high-energy beams to kill or shrink cancer cells or prevent them from spreading.  

• Immunotherapy: Checkpoint inhibitors are a type of immunotherapy that activate your immune system to find and fight cancer cells. Imfinzi (durvalumab) is the checkpoint inhibitor approved for use after chemotherapy and radiation are completed if cancer has not spread.

• Surgery: Removing cancer through surgery may be an option if it’s found very early. The surgeon will often also remove and examine nearby lymph nodes to ensure the cancer has not spread.  

Extensive-stage SCLC treatments

In extensive-stage SCLC, your first treatment(s) after diagnosis may include 1 or more of the following:

• Chemotherapy: The same chemotherapy drugs used in limited-stage SCLC (etoposide plus carboplatin or cisplatin) may be used as initial treatment for extensive-stage SCLC.  

• Immunotherapy: Imfinzi (durvalumab) or Tecentriq (atezolizumab) are the checkpoint inhibitors approved for use during or after chemotherapy is complete.

• Radiation therapy: This treatment may be used to treat areas in the body that didn’t respond to other treatments, or to relieve symptoms. There are also specialized types of radiation used to treat SCLC that has spread to the brain.

If your scans show that the cancer has completely or partially responded to your last round of chemotherapy, or if the cancer is stable and not growing, your healthcare team may discuss starting maintenance therapy. This is the continued use of certain treatments with the goal of keeping cancer from growing. Approved maintenance treatments for extensive-stage SCLC include:

• Immunotherapy: The checkpoint inhibitors, Imfinzi (durvalumab) or Tecentriq (atezolizumab) may be used after chemotherapy is complete as long as they continue to be effective.

• Tecentriq (atezolizumab) combined with Zepzelca (lurbinectedin): Recent studies have shown that Tecentriq (atezolizumab) combined with the chemotherapy drug Zepzelca (lurbinectedin) is more effective as maintenance therapy than Tecentriq (atezolizumab) alone. 

Treatment options if SCLC grows or spreads

If your scans show that SCLC has grown or has spread while on your current treatment, a different treatment will be needed. Your healthcare team will talk to you about your options, including well-established treatments, newly approved treatments, and clinical trials. Your options may include one or more of the following:  

• Immunotherapy: T-cell engagers are a different type of immunotherapy that work by bringing immune cells together with cancer cells to help activate your immune system and destroy the cancer cells. Imdelltra (tarlatamab) is currently the only approved T-cell engager for SCLC and is the current standard of care when the cancer has grown or spread following chemotherapy.

• Chemotherapy: Your treatment options depend on the type of chemotherapy used previously and how long ago it was. There are several chemotherapy options for SCLC.

• Radiation therapy: There are different types of radiation therapy that may be used to treat specific areas of the body or to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.

Clinical trials

A clinical trial is a type of research study that tests new treatments or old treatments in new ways to learn how well they work and how safe they are. It’s always a good idea to discuss clinical trials any time a new treatment is needed, including when you are first diagnosed. You can talk to your healthcare team about what clinical trials may be right for you or contact our HelpLine at 1-800-298-2436 or email support@go2.org to connect with our LungMATCH treatment and clinical trial navigators.  

Palliative care

Palliative care is different than hospice care. The goal of palliative care is to improve your comfort and your quality of life, no matter the stage of cancer or where you are on your treatment path. Its purpose is to prevent or treat the symptoms and side effects of lung cancer and its treatments so you can enjoy more of life.  

Palliative care is especially important in advanced lung cancer. Studies show that people with lung cancer who receive ongoing palliative care beginning early in the treatment process not only have improved quality of life but also live longer.

What does this mean for you?

With ongoing research and recent advances, there is increased hope for people diagnosed with SCLC. New discoveries in SCLC treatment make it even more important to ask your healthcare team about all your available treatment options. Have open discussions with your team about what is important to you and ask questions.  

If you would like to learn more about SCLC treatment options, have questions about SCLC, 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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Brenda S. didn’t expect anything unusual from her visit to her primary care physician. It was the kind of routine appointment she had done many times before. It was a standard check-in, familiar questions, nothing out of the ordinary. Brenda had lived with multiple sclerosis (MS) for years and understood what it meant to manage a chronic illness, but aside from that, she considered herself healthy. Lung cancer was not on her radar.

And yet, that appointment marked the beginning of an experience that would change her life.

“You better get another opinion.”

Brenda’s experience with lung cancer stands out because it didn’t follow the path so many others know too well.  

“A lot of times people are diagnosed at a pretty late stage,” she explained. “I was one of the lucky ones to get diagnosed early.”  

That early diagnosis, however, didn’t come easily or immediately, and it didn’t come without persistence.

During that initial visit, something caught her doctor’s attention. Tests followed, and eventually, her doctor discovered a nodule. Brenda was told that it was benign. On the surface, that should have been the end of the story. Relief is the word most people would expect to describe that moment.

But relief wasn’t the whole truth.

“I remember just saying, please, please don’t let it be cancer,” Brenda recalled. And when she heard the word benign, she wanted to believe it completely. Yet underneath the reassurance, there was a feeling she couldn’t shake. “Deep inside, it was nagging,” she said. “It was like… I don’t know, sister, you’d better get another opinion.”

Brenda tried to move forward. Life went on. But that quiet inner voice didn’t disappear.

A gut feeling and rare early diagnosis

Brenda and her partner, Alice.

Nearly a year later, she developed a cough. It might have been easy to dismiss. After all, coughs are common, especially when life is busy and family visits. But that timing turned out to matter. Among the relatives in town was a nurse, someone trained to notice what others might overlook. She pulled Brenda’s partner Alice aside and said plainly: “This needs to be checked.”

That moment was pivotal.

Brenda listened. She followed up. And this time, the outcome was different.

The cancer was found early, something Brenda doesn’t take lightly. Early detection gave her options, time, and the ability to approach treatment without the urgency and limitations that come with a late-stage diagnosis. She knows how rare that is in lung cancer, and she doesn’t call herself lucky casually.

Her story is a reminder that diagnosis is not always a single moment, but a series of decisions—some small, some difficult—that add up. It’s about trusting medical expertise, yes, but also trusting yourself. Brenda’s experience underscores how critical self-advocacy can be, especially when something doesn’t sit right, even if the initial answer seems reassuring.

Living fully

Beyond her diagnosis, Brenda is someone defined by far more than cancer. One of the joys woven throughout her life has always been singing. Whether performing when she was younger or sharing music in more personal settings, singing has long been part of who she is. Today, Brenda has found her way back to jazz singing, a return that feels especially meaningful. Being back in that space, reconnecting with music and performance, has brought her renewed joy and vitality. Singing is an expression of creativity, resilience, and presence, qualities that carried her through uncertainty and continue to ground her now.

Cancer has a way of narrowing focus, of making life feel smaller. Brenda’s story pushes back against that. It’s not just about what she faced, but about how she continues to live fully, with gratitude and purpose. Returning to jazz is not about going back to who she was before but embracing who she is now. She speaks openly, not because the moments leading to her diagnosis were easy, but because she hopes her experience might help someone else pause, ask another question, or seek a second opinion when something feels off.

She’s also quick to express appreciation for her doctors, for her family, and for the advocates and organizations working to change the lung cancer narrative. “Thank you to GO2 for Lung Cancer for the work you are doing,” she said. “I’m here, whatever I can do.”

Brenda’s experience is a powerful reminder that early detection saves lives, that listening to your instincts matters, and that sometimes the most important voice to hear is the quiet one telling you to look again.

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. Whether it’s questions about getting a second opinion, biomarker testing, screening, treatment options, or simply needing someone to listen, the HelpLine is here to make sure you know you are not alone. Call 1-800-298-2436 or email ‍ support@go2.org to get started. 

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When Rachel S. talks about her mom, Jan, you can still feel the energy she brought into every room. Jan was hilarious, dramatic in the best way, endlessly curious, and deeply kind, the type of person who made everyone feel special. She loved through food, through knitting, and through gathering people together.

In late September 2024, Rachel and her family were blindsided by a stage 4 (IV) lung cancer diagnosis. Just months later, on January 17, 2025, Jan passed away. The loss was sudden and devastating, but her spark never faded.

Today, Rachel and her family honor Jan’s life by coming together each year at GO2’s Sacramento 5K Walk/Run in her memory, turning grief into connection and action. We sat down with Rachel to learn more about her mom’s life, legacy, and the impact she continues to have on everyone who loved her.

Tell us about Jan

If I were introducing my mom at a gathering, there’s a strong chance people would already know her – or she would have already made herself known. She was genuinely hilarious. The kind of person who could tell a story and have an entire table crying with laughter. She was loud in the best way, dramatic, animated, obsessed with true crime, and completely unafraid to strike up a conversation with anyone. People loved her. I mean truly loved her. She had fans. But underneath all of that personality was someone deeply kind and interested in people. She made you feel special. That was her magic.

What were some of the things she was most passionate about – hobbies, traditions, routines, or little quirks that made her her?

After I left for college, her best friend taught her to knit. That turned into hundreds of beanies and blankets for family, friends, grandchildren – even cancer organizations. She was also the quintessential Jewish mom – an incredible cook and host. Holidays and gatherings at our house were sacred. Feeding people was how she loved them.

Can you share a moment or memory that feels especially representative of who she was?

My mom would move mountains for my sister and me. In 1998 she surprised us with Backstreet Boys tickets and a trip to Las Vegas – and then surprised us again with a second night and front row seats. That kind of over-the-top joy was so her. After she passed, they announced a Vegas residency, and my dad, sister, and I went. It felt like she made it happen.

When she was diagnosed, what do you remember most about that time – emotionally or practically — for your family?

It was a living nightmare. One day she was healthy, and the next we were told it was stage 4 (IV) lung cancer. By the time we had answers in late September, tumors had fractured her spine, and she was in bed until she passed on January 17, 2025.

Everything was hard. She couldn’t move, so every appointment required enormous coordination. We were incredibly fortunate to have neighbors and lifelong friends who stepped up in extraordinary ways.

Even with that support, it was overwhelming. There are so many unknowns with a diagnosis like this, which is why guidance and community around lung cancer matter so much.

How did she approach life in the months that followed her diagnosis?

She was still herself. Sassy. Funny. Curious. Even from bed, she wanted to know all of the gossip. She still made jokes. That spark never left her.  

What kind of impact did she have on her family, friends, and neighbors?

The number of people who showed up for her and for us told me everything I needed to know about her impact.

She built real relationships. With neighbors. With lifelong friends. With our friends. With people she met once and somehow remembered forever. She made people feel seen and important. That kind of energy doesn’t disappear.

Since her passing, how have you seen her legacy live on in your family or community?

Her knitting is everywhere. Her recipes are still in rotation. We still host. We still gather.

But more than anything, she changed how we live. There’s a depth now. A perspective you don’t get unless you’ve experienced loss like this. We don’t sweat the small stuff the same way anymore.

Can you describe what motivated you to participate in   GO2’s Sacramento 5K Walk/Run in her honor?

Grief is disorienting. I needed community and I needed direction. I needed to turn heartbreak into action. If I couldn’t save my mom, I wanted to help save someone else’s. Leading the 5K in her honor felt like the most meaningful way to do that.

What does it mean to you to have family and friends come together at this event to celebrate her life?

We formed our team just a month after she passed. It was still so raw, but we needed it.

Seeing that many people show up for her – walking, donating, wearing her name – was incredibly healing. It reminded us how much she meant and that we were helping fund real progress in her honor.

How does this event help shift the narrative around lung cancer from loss and stigma to community, celebration, and hope?

Cancer is everywhere. It’s happening younger. It’s happening to nonsmokers. It’s happening to people who “did everything right. “Events like this help dissolve isolation. They replace stigma with community. They remind families that they are not alone. And, they fund real progress.

Grief can be incredibly lonely. This makes it collective, and collective grief can become collective hope.

If you had to sum up what you hope readers understand about your mom, what would you want them to take away?

There will never be enough time with the people we love. My mom lived loudly, generously, and with joy. I hope people step away from the noise of daily life and remember that right now is what we have. Don’t wait to show up. Don’t wait to say the thing. Live bigger while you can.

Honor your loved ones by joining a GO2 5K Walk/Run near you, or by starting your own team. Every step helps fund programs, research, and resources that ensure no one faces lung cancer alone. Find an event and join us!   

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At GO2 for Lung Cancer, helping patients and families is at the heart of what we do. Our support services connect people to trusted information, help them navigate care, and offer guidance during difficult moments.

At the same time, GO2 also works behind the scenes on health policy. This work focuses on the laws and decisions that shape whether people can get screened, see the right specialists, afford treatment, and receive follow-up care. Together, direct support and policy advocacy help ensure that people affected by lung cancer can get the care they need when they need it.

Expanding access to lung cancer screening

Early detection saves lives. That’s why expanding access to lung cancer screening is one of GO2’s top priorities.

Rules about who qualifies for lung cancer screening can make a big difference. These guidelines decide who is eligible for low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scans and whether insurance covers the cost. When screening rules are too narrow or outdated, some people who are still at high risk may not be able to get screened.

GO2 is closely engaged as national screening recommendations come up for review. These reviews are important opportunities to update guidelines based on new research and real-world experience. Today, some individuals—such as certain people with a smoking history—may still face a higher risk of lung cancer but do not meet current screening criteria.

GO2 also works to ensure that Medicare coverage keeps pace with updated screening guidance. This is especially important for older adults who are more likely to develop lung cancer. When coverage rules do not match current medical guidance, people may face delays or barriers to screening that could help detect cancer earlier.

Through ongoing advocacy, GO2 works to ensure that lung cancer screening guidelines and coverage policies reflect current real-world evidence and updated clinical guidelines, so more people who could benefit from screening are able to access it.

Ensuring access to timely diagnosis and biomarker testing

Screening is only the first step in the lung cancer care experience. When a suspicious finding appears on a scan, patients need timely diagnostic evaluation and testing to determine the best path forward.

An important part of this process is biomarker testing, which analyzes a tumor’s genetic features to help doctors identify treatments that may work best for a specific patient. Many modern lung cancer treatments depend on these results, making timely access to testing critical for guiding treatment decisions.

GO2 works to improve access to biomarker testing through both policy and system-level efforts. This includes supporting state legislation that helps ensure insurance coverage for biomarker testing and advocating for its inclusion in state cancer plans and other cancer control initiatives.

By advancing policies and best practices that support timely and appropriate testing, GO2 helps provide patients and their care teams with the information they need to choose the most effective treatment options.

GO2 also works with national partners and policymakers to advance policies that support appropriate biomarker testing and ensure that patients across the country can benefit from the latest advances in precision medicine.

Supporting access throughout the care journey

Access challenges don’t stop after screening. Many policies affect care at every stage from diagnosis and treatment to follow-up and survivorship. GO2 works to ensure these policies support patients rather than create new obstacles.

One important tool is telehealth. Telehealth allows patients to talk with healthcare providers by phone or video, making it easier to have screening conversations, meet with specialists, manage care, and check in after treatment. For people who live far from cancer centers, have trouble traveling, or juggle work and family responsibilities, telehealth can make care more reachable.

As healthcare rules continue to change, GO2 advocates for telehealth policies that are practical, fair, and patient-friendly. The goal is to make sure virtual care remains an option, especially when it helps patients stay connected to the care they need.

Making sure the patient voice is heard

GO2 also works with other patient advocacy organizations to strengthen the patient voice in health policy discussions. By working together, patient groups can raise shared concerns and help decision-makers understand how policies affect real people.

This teamwork helps ensure that lung cancer needs are considered in broader healthcare decisions especially when policies are designed for many conditions at once but may affect cancer patients in unique ways.

Improving affordability of lung cancer treatment

The cost of treatment is a major concern for many people facing lung cancer. GO2 closely follows changes to Medicare drug coverage and pricing rules that affect how much patients pay for their medications.

Recent changes to federal law are reshaping how prescription drug costs are handled under Medicare. GO2’s policy work focuses on making sure these changes truly help patients afford their medications without limiting access to the treatments their doctors recommend.

By monitoring how new rules are put into practice, GO2 works to identify and address any unintended consequences that could make it harder for patients to get the care they need.

Addressing insurance barriers when they arise

Sometimes, even when guidelines and policies are in place, insurance coverage decisions can still create problems for patients. When this happens, GO2 speaks up.

GO2 engages directly with health plans when coverage rules or restrictions limit access to needed cancer treatments, especially for people with rare or specific types of lung cancer. These efforts focus on ensuring that coverage decisions keep pace with medical advances and recognize that different patients need different treatments.

This kind of targeted advocacy helps reinforce a simple but important message: cancer care should be guided by medical evidence and individual patient needs—not one-size-fits-all rules.

One goal: Helping patients get the care they need

Whether providing direct support to patients, advocating for expanded screening, protecting access to care tools like telehealth, working to improve affordability, or addressing insurance barriers, GO2’s work is guided by one goal: helping people affected by lung cancer access timely, high-quality care.

Some of this work happens behind the scenes, but its impact is felt every day. GO2 remains committed to supporting patients and families—both through direct services and through advocacy that helps make the healthcare system work better for everyone affected by lung cancer. Learn more about our advocacy work.