Lung cancer stories

Laura lives in Camden, South Carolina, where she loves horseback riding, playing Mahjong, and is opening her very own Mahjong studio. She is a Veteran who receives care through the Veterans Administration (VA) and is an active advocate for lung cancer awareness.

Laura never expected lung cancer to be part of her story. At 38, she was doing everything she was supposed to do. She was keeping up with annual appointments through the VA, staying active, and paying attention to her health. Lung cancer wasn’t even on her radar.  

But looking back, there were signs. She had a lingering cough that began the previous spring, fatigue that she chalked up to stress from work and life, and congestion that allergy medications never seemed to touch. Occasionally, she even coughed up blood. But like many people, especially younger people, she never imagined it could mean lung cancer.

“I was so focused on all the other cancers,” Laura said. “My mom died of colon cancer, so I started getting colonoscopies in my twenties. I kept up with everything they tell you to be aware of related to women’s health. But lung cancer was nowhere on my radar.”  

During a routine visit at the VA in April 2023, Laura mentioned the cough to her doctor, along with wrist pain, exhaustion, and a handful of other symptoms that had slowly become part of everyday life. Because Veterans are diagnosed with lung cancer at higher rates than the general population, her care team ordered a chest X-ray right away.

The chest X-ray appeared to show a small 6-millimeter nodule in her right lung. It was small enough that her care team reassured her it was common in service members. They'd just monitor it with a CT scan to make sure it wasn't growing.

Then the CT results came back. The nodule wasn't 6 millimeters. It was almost 6 centimeters.

Her doctor called her that afternoon. She told Laura she was sorry and that she was going to schedule her with an oncologist right away. Laura didn't even know what to say.

"I'm sorry, ‘oncologist?’ What do you mean? Why do I need an oncologist? Could it be anything else?" she asked.

"Based on the size of [the nodule]," the doctor told her, "No. It's going to be cancer."

The importance of biomarker testing

A few days later, Laura underwent a biopsy through the VA’s partnership with the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Her pulmonologist immediately emphasized the importance of comprehensive biomarker testing before starting treatment. It’s a step that Laura now knows was critical.

“They said, ‘We’re going to get a lot of tissue, send it for genetic testing, and wait for those results before deciding on treatment,’” she said. “I was lucky. This is how everybody should be treated.”  

The results confirmed that Laura had stage 4 (IV) ALK-positive lung cancer, a form of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) driven by an ALK biomarker. Although hearing the words “stage 4” was devastating, learning she had a biomarker also meant she had highly targeted treatment options available.

At first, Laura started treatment with alectinib, an ALK-targeted therapy. But while the medication effectively treated her cancer, the side effects became difficult to manage.

Eventually, after struggling with side effects and elevated liver enzymes, Laura transitioned to lorlatinib, another ALK-targeted therapy she says has allowed her to regain much of her quality of life.

“I have energy again,” she said. “It’s so much better.”

Learning to live with uncertainty

Still, adjusting to life with metastatic lung cancer has been about far more than finding the right medication. Laura describes the emotional aftermath of diagnosis as one of the hardest parts of her experience.

“The diagnosis is world-upending,” she said. “First, you think you’re going to die. Then, actually, no. Maybe you’re not going to die right away. And, OK, you’re excited to be doing so well, but now you have to figure out how to live this entirely new way.”  

Over time, Laura has learned that coping doesn’t always mean fixing everything. In fact, some of her biggest lessons have come from letting go of the illusion of control.

“I went a little crazy trying to control everything at first,” she said. “I changed my diet, exercised constantly, and stopped drinking alcohol overnight. I just wanted to do something.”  

“Over time, I had to learn to let go a little, and that I don’t need to solve every bad feeling,” she said. “I control what I can control and let the bad days come when they come. It doesn’t mean it’s forever.”  

That shift in perspective has helped Laura rebuild a life that still feels joyful and meaningful. After her diagnosis, she moved to Camden, South Carolina, where she now spends time horseback riding, playing mahjong, and preparing to open a mahjong studio, a project she enthusiastically describes as her latest obsession.

“When I’m into something, I’m serious about it,” she laughed. “It’s been good to channel that energy from cancer to something more fun.”

Finding community and hope

Laura has also become involved in advocacy through GO2 for Lung Cancer and the ALK Positive community. Attending advocacy events and scientific summits has transformed the way she thinks about the future.

“Every year at the ALK Summit, researchers and doctors show us what they’re working on,” she said. “You realize there are absolutely brilliant people out there who care deeply about helping us live longer.”  

Sharing her story on Capitol Hill during GO2’s Voices Summit has also shown her how much education is still needed around lung cancer.

“I realized legislators and staffers often don’t know anything about lung cancer,” she said. “Sharing my story was an opportunity to teach them about the disease and what is needed to better treat it.”  

Today, Laura hopes her story helps challenge outdated assumptions about who gets lung cancer and what life after diagnosis can look like, especially for younger people, Veterans, and people living with biomarker-driven disease.

Her biggest advice for someone newly diagnosed?

“Take your time,” she said. “You don’t have to figure everything out right now.”  

She also strongly encourages others to find community.

“The biggest help for me was joining a supportive group and talking to people going through the same thing,” Laura said. “You realize you’re not alone, and that’s priceless.”  

“There’s so much more coming”

Three years after her diagnosis, Laura knows life still includes uncertainty, grief, and hard days. But it also includes hope, connection, and plans for the future.

“It’s so empowering to see all the advances happening in research,” she said, “I really believe there’s so much more coming.”  

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.

When Bob Neary passed away from lung cancer in February 2013, his family was left with immense grief. A devoted husband, father, coach, and community member, Bob touched countless lives during his 63 years. Today, more than a decade later, his memory continues to inspire friends and family through Team Bob Neary, an annual community walk that raises awareness and funds for lung cancer research.

Bob’s story is one of resilience, family, and service. He was the youngest of 8 children in a close-knit Irish family. Having lost his mother to kidney disease when he was just 7 years old, Bob understood hardship from an early age. Tragically, lung cancer would later claim both his father and Bob himself at the same age.

After moving to Houston as newlyweds, Bob and his wife Alice built a life centered on family and community. Bob worked as an investment banker at Amegy Bank and spent countless hours coaching his children’s soccer, baseball, softball, and T-ball teams. His commitment to youth sports eventually led him to serve as Commissioner of the Spring Branch Baseball Association, where he helped oversee one of the largest baseball organizations in West Houston.

“He was very involved in our children’s sporting events,” Alice recalls. “He coached their teams for many years and was always there.”

Following Bob’s diagnosis in July 2012 and his passing just 7 months after undergoing radiation and chemotherapy, his family searched for a meaningful way to honor his life.

“I had a longing to do something to keep his memory alive,” Alice said.

After attending a lung cancer walk hosted by the organization that is now GO2 in downtown Houston, an idea began to take shape. The family realized that hosting an event closer to home might make it easier for friends and neighbors to participate. Together, they created what would become Team Bob Neary’s annual community walk.

What began in 2016 as a local gathering has grown into a cherished tradition led by Alice. This year marks the walk’s 10th anniversary. Since its inception, Team Bob Neary has raised more than $32,550 to support GO2 for Lung Cancer’s mission to save lives, increase survivorship, and improve quality of life for those affected by lung cancer.

The event takes place near Terry Hershey Park in Houston’s Energy Corridor, a beautiful park that stretches for miles along the bayou. The location was intentionally chosen to make participation convenient and welcoming.

“Getting into downtown Houston is a hassle,” Alice explains. “If we started the walk at 9 a.m., people would still have most of their Saturday free.”

That simple approach has resonated with supporters year after year. Friends return each November, and family members from across the country have even flown in to take part.

“Having so many of our friends who faithfully come to our walk each year has meant so much to my children and me,” Alice said. “We have had family members fly in for the weekend to attend; it is hard to put into words how grateful we are.”

Typically, around 30 participants gather for the walk. For those unable to complete the route, there is always an invitation to join afterward for breakfast, a tradition that has become one of the event’s most meaningful elements.

After the walk concludes, participants head back to the Neary home to share a meal, reconnect, and celebrate the community that has formed around Bob’s memory.

“I love having everyone back to my house for breakfast,” Alice said. “It’s a way for me to give back and thank everyone for their support.”

The personal touches don’t end there. Participants proudly wear Team Bob Neary T-shirts, often sparking conversations with curious passersby along the trail.

“Every year during the walk, people stop and ask what Team Bob Neary means,” Alice said. “Maybe that small gesture will make someone think about donating or starting something of their own.”

For Bob’s family, the event has become much more than a fundraiser. It has evolved into a powerful source of healing.

While she hadn’t initially viewed the walk as part of her grief journey, looking back, she recognizes the role it has played.

“If by doing the walk every year, raising money and awareness has contributed in some small way to help find a cure for this awful disease, I am not only honoring Bob’s memory but maybe helping someone else and their family not having to go through the pain and suffering of losing a loved one.”

Among Alice’s favorite memories are the years when her daughter and son-in-law returned home after living in Abu Dhabi, UAE, for 8 years, where they welcomed 3 sons. Being able to walk together as a family upon their return to the United States added an extra layer of joy and meaning to the event. Alice is also deeply grateful for the steadfast support of her son and daughter-in-law over the years. She says their love, encouragement, and presence have meant more than words can express and have been an important part of the journey.

Throughout the years, GO2 for Lung Cancer has been a trusted partner in Team Bob Neary’s fundraising efforts.

“GO2 for Lung Cancer has been so supportive over the years,” she says. “They are always there to answer questions or help in any way you can.”

For anyone considering starting a community fundraiser or advocacy effort of their own, she acknowledges that it requires time and dedication. Organizing invitations, tracking donations, coordinating attendees, and sending thank-you notes all take effort.

Yet the rewards far outweigh the work.

“Every year at the end of the walk, I know it was so worth the effort,” Alice said. “Not only is it wonderful to be with devoted friends and family who show up every year, but to feel that you are making a contribution to help end cancer is the best feeling in the world.”

Looking ahead, her hopes remain simple.

“If time and health allow, I hope to continue our annual walk, to raise money and awareness, and to honor Bob for as long as possible.”

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

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.

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.

‍

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.

‍

“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.

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. 

‍

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!   

‍