LUNG FORCE Heroes | American Lung Association

Barbara B. My father has COPD. He has been a smoker since a young age and it is severely limiting his adult life.
Sandra H. I have lost my grandfather, one uncle, one aunt, and have one aunt that survived lung cancer and now have another aunt starting radiation and chemotherapy for it. We have got to find a cure.
Sandra H. I have had 2 close friends die from emphysema and one from lung cancer. I have asthma from bronchitis and have to "inhale" before any exercise. I have never smoked!
Sandra H. Hi, my name is Sandy Helmin-Clazmer. My story dates back to 1987. I was teaching in Racine, Wisconsin and was finishing my last semester of grad school. During that time, I was plagued with a dry chronic cough and frequent bouts of laryngitis.
Robin S. I was diagnosed on Mothers Day on May 9, 2013 with stage 4 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. It has now metastasized to my brain - I'm still fighting!
Grace M. I began working with American Lung Association in 2015, after the death of my mother Donna, who had lung cancer.
Debbi B. I had my entire right lung removed because of lung cancer and had 28 radiation treatments on my esophagus so it didn’t cross over to my left lung.
Arthur M. I am very grateful as I had lung surgery when I was 87 years old that was found after I was X-rayed following an elbow fracture.
Chris S.
Wendy S. Nine years have passed since my sister and best friend, Nikki, passed away from metastasized lung cancer. She was diagnosed with Carcinosarcoma, so rare that MD Anderson did not have a team for this type of cancer.
Roy W. My lung cancer story started nine years ago. I had been treated for an upper respiratory infection and most of it had cleared up except for a persistent cough.
Mark C. I’m 58 years old and started smoking at age of 16. I would quit for a couple years a couple of times.
Queenie B. I lost both of my parents and my brother to the same type of lung cancer.
Carole S. I had to take my aunt off life support.
Lisa D. I am a 47-year-old female living in Las Vegas. In Aug 2021, my primary doctor discovered a mass in my right lung via chest X-ray.

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