Celebrating Progress and Raising Awareness: My 20-Year Survival Journey

Starting September 25, 2025, I will embark on a life-changing adventure—12,000 miles, six weeks, across the country. We are calling it The Journey. This trek marks my 20th cancer anniversary, an incredible milestone that I never imagined reaching when I was first diagnosed with lung cancer in 2005. But The Journey is not just about my personal survivorship; it is about recognizing the remarkable progress in lung cancer research and treatment over the past two decades.

Remarkable progress in survival rates

For those who may not be familiar with the history of lung cancer survival rates, let me offer some perspective. When I was diagnosed, the five-year survival rate was just 15%, a number that had remained stagnant for years. Today, that rate has increased to 28%. While this is still unacceptably low, it represents an 87% increase in survivorship. That is something to celebrate!

Two decades ago, it was unheard of to see 20-year lung cancer survivors. Today, many of us have reached that milestone. This is thanks to incredible advances in biomarker testing, targeted therapies, minimally invasive surgeries, improved radiation treatments, early detection, and screening programs. And let’s not forget the power of advocacy—individuals coming together, challenging the stigma, and demanding the research funding that lung cancer patients deserve.

Challenging the stigma, driving change

A major barrier that has hindered progress in lung cancer research and treatment is the stigma attached to the disease. For too long, lung cancer patients have been blamed for their diagnosis, especially if they have a history of smoking. This stigma directly impacts funding and research opportunities, preventing progress for all patients, regardless of smoking history.

If you know me, you know that I am passionate about changing this narrative. No one deserves lung cancer. No one deserves to be condemned to death because of outdated perceptions. That's why The Journey is about more than just marking a milestone—it is about advocacy. It's about telling the world that lung cancer patients deserve research, treatments, and the chance to live full lives.

Meet Skan: The CAT SCAN mascot

As we hit the road, we will be traveling in the Skan Van. No, we are not scanning people—Skan is actually our mascot! He’s here to help us spread the word. Last year, our nonprofit LiveLung adopted Skan as a symbol of early detection and screening. The message is simple: Dogs can’t screen for lung cancer, but CAT SCAN can! It’s a clever way to spread awareness and get people talking about the importance of lung cancer screening.

Join us on the journey: Let's connect!

The Skan Van will make stops across the U.S., and I hope you will be a part of it. If you live in or near one of our planned stops, I would love to meet you—whether it’s for a quick coffee, lunch, or a simple hello and photo in front of the van. Let’s connect, celebrate progress, and continue pushing forward in the fight against lung cancer.