The Voice

December 2024

What Are Neuroendocrine Tumors? Why Are They Important?

Grace Ballenger

While pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors are rare, they can be either benign or lung cancer. Learn about the types and symptoms of these tumors.

repurposing medicine for cancer treatment

October 2024

New Targets for Existing Drugs May Offer Benefits To Cancer Patients

By Grace Ballenger

New approaches to treating lung cancer may already be out there without the medical community knowing it yet, and a process called drug repurposing could be the missing link to such discoveries. 

the notion of the history of clinical trails for cancer research

July / August 2024

How Did Clinical Trials Come About?

By Grace Ballenger

Clinical trials offer new possibilities for treating cancer. You’ll find the way they originated fascinating.

Lung Cancer Treatment

June 2024

What to Expect From Screening to Treatment

By Grace Ballenger

Lung Cancer is a Journey – Here’s what to expect.

lung cancer research

May 2024

Lung Cancer Care Today and Tomorrow

By Grace Ballenger

Recent lung cancer research offers hope for diagnosis and treatment.

lung cancer self advocacy

April 2024

Elevating the Patient’s Voice in Lung Cancer Treatment

By Grace Ballenger

In the process of learning a lung cancer diagnosis, being presented with various treatment options that all appear foreign, feeling overwhelmed, where is the patient’s voice?

Black Women Study Upstage Lung Cancer

March 2024

Improving Lung Cancer Screening Eligibility for Black Women

By Priyanka Senthil, Alexandra Potter, Chi-Fu Jeffrey Yang, MD

Changing mortality rates for black women by making screening more accessible

women have higher rates of developing lung cancer

January 2024

Among Non-Smokers, Women Are Twice as Likely To Get Lung Cancer Than Men

By Grace Ballenger

Historically, lung cancer was considered a man’s disease. While there may be similarities in incidence, women often express different symptoms than men, with women presenting more vague symptoms. What are the factors that may cause lung cancer in women, and current research and treatments?

Anthony Sireci, MD, clinical pathologist

November 2023

Why People with Lung Cancer Need Biomarker Testing – and Why They Aren’t Getting It

Anthony Sireci, M.D.

Vice President, Clinical Biomarkers and Diagnostics Development, Loxo@Lilly

In recent years there is renewed hope for treatment of lung cancer using precision medicine. Knowing your biomarker can guide a specific therapeutic treatment plan that aims precisely at that mutation. So,why do only 50% of patients with advanced lung cancer get their tumors tested for biomarkers?

closeup of immune cells attacking a cancer cell

October 2023

Doctors Enable Patients’ Bodies to Fight Lung Cancer Via Immunotherapy

By Grace Ballenger

Immunotherapy is the use of medicines to help a person’s own immune system recognize and destroy cancer cells. Learn how this complicated system is benefiting cancer patients.

black mother and daughter in waiting room

September 2023

Medical Mistrust Can Have Serious Impact on Lung Cancer Outcomes

By Grace Ballenger

Medical mistrust is often connected to racism, with the result that many Black Americans have learned to mistrust the medical system. Mistrust has emerged from historical mistreatment of people of color, but continues to exist through inequities in access to care. New efforts to address these issues need to be made.

August 2023

Making Strides to Take Advantage of Lung Cancer Screening 

By Hildy Grossman

ULC Founder & President

The mission of the Rescue Lung Society is to save lives of people at risk for lung cancer through high-quality CT lung screening today and pioneer early detection innovations tomorrow.

Prioritizing Emotional Well-Being During Lung Cancer Imaging

June 2023

Scanxiety and Mental Health:
Prioritizing Emotional Well-Being During Lung Cancer Imaging

By Zach Norton

PR Specialist, Maven Imaging

Undergoing frequent scans is a reality for people with lung cancer. It is a difficult and stressful time due to the physical and emotional toll medical scans can take on a person.

Asian women lung cancer

April 2023

Women And Lung Cancer: A Special Focus On Asian Women

By Grace Ballenger

Did you know lung cancer is the second most common cancer in women, is much more deadly than breast cancer? Learn about what we know and still don’t know when it comes to lung cancer in women.

Close knit hispanic family

March 2023

“Tienes cáncer de pulmón”
(You Have Lung Cancer)

By Karen Hamel

A lung cancer diagnosis is frightening news for anyone. For Hispanic Americans this can be compounded by a number of factors that may make it hard to access high quality care.

lung cancer care giver

February 2023

Behind the Scenes:
The Experience of Being A Caregiver

By Grace Ballenger

The author approached a couple of caregivers and asked them to talk about their experiences and if they had any advice to share with others who are going through the same thing.

Susan Smidley Resilient Souls

Janurary 2023

Transforming the Trauma of Cancer and Its Aftermath

By Susan Smedley

Founder of Resilient Souls, an organization dedicated to empowering those impacted by lung cancer and other traumatic situations

I was 32 and a brand-new mom when I was diagnosed with lung cancer.

screening for lung cancer

December 2022

The Power of Screening for Lung Cancer

By Hildy Grossman

ULC Founder & President

Diagnosing lung cancer early is the single most significant factor for overcoming the disease.

Upstage Lung Cancer Board Members

October 2022

From Impacts to Action: Telling the Stories of ULC Board Members

By Grace Ballenger

Inspired by their hard work, the author asks board members what made them want to join the organization’s board in the first place.

Heather Smith

June 2022

From Survivor to Thriver
A Personal Story

By Heather Smith

Life Coach for cancer patients & cancer patient

In her personal story, Heather Smith tells how she changed her mindset to find purpose in her life after Stage IV diagnosis at 34 years old.

Power together

April 2022

Linking Our Voices to Make Congress Listen: Research Matters!

By Hildy Grossman

ULC Founder & President

There is power in linking our voices together, and we urge the DOD to fund desperately needed, significant lung cancer research.

early dection CT scan

March 2022

Lung Cancer Early Detection: Expanded Screening

By Claire Youkilis Shafer

For all cancers, early detection is vital to better healthcare outcomes. Currently, screening for lung cancer is only by low dose CT scans.

women’s empowerment exchange

January 2022

When One Door Closes, Another One Opens

By Hildy Grossman

ULC Founder & President

This concept perfectly reflects my experience after being diagnosed with lung cancer in 2007.

Linnea Olson

December 2021

Clinical Trials: Courage and Hope

By Claire Youkilis Shafer

Upstage Lung Cancer recently posted an informative podcast about clinical trials Clinical Trials and Tribulations: Upstage Lung Cancer (Podcast).Listening to the podcast inspired me to set out to do a little informal research to learn more.

palliative care lung cancer

October 2021

Understanding Palliative Care

By Claire Youkilis Shafer

Palliative care is a specialty field of medicine, an extra layer of support. Essentially you would have a whole team of experts to provide extra care for you and your family while you are going through treatment for your cancer.

Kathy Griffin diagnosed with lung cancer

September 2021

Lung Cancer Is Not A Laughing Matter

Claire Youkilis Shafer

You may or may not be a fan of Kathy Griffin’s acting or comedy, but she recently became a member of a growing group of never-smoking Americans who face a lung cancer diagnosis.

bio marker

June 2021

Learn Everything You Can About Biomarkers. It could save your life or your loved one.

By Hildy Grossman

ULC Founder & President

Biomarker testing is a way to look for substances to find information about cancer.

Jill Costello

May 2021

Young People Get Lung Cancer, Really!

By Hildy Grossman

ULC Founder & President

Unfortunately, doctors don’t know how or why. Proceeds from our concerts help to support research to help find answers to these questions.

lung cancer screening

April 2021

Lung Cancer Screening News

By Hildy Grossman

ULC Founder & President

United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) announced revisions to its existing lung cancer screening.

telemedicine

March 2021

How the COVID-19 Legacy Could Change Cancer Care for the Better

By Cheryl Davis

President & Founder, Red Thred Solutions

The pandemic has forced physicians, surgeons, and patient advocacy organizations to adapt how they treat and support vulnerable populations.

Janet McCarthy

February 2021

All in the Family

An interview by Tricia Hardwick

Janet McCarthy’s lung cancer was first detected eight years ago. Unfortunately, this was not Janet’s first close encounter with lung cancer.

Gloria and Joe Linnertz

January 2021

Anyone Can Get Lung Cancer: Here is One Thing You Can Do

By Gloria Linnertz

Director & Founder, Citizens for Radioactive Radon Reduction

There may be another invisible killer lurking in what you think is the safety of your home. We had never tested our home and didn’t know that radon gas exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers!

Hildy Grossman with Louise Tucker

December 2020

Holidays: The Best of Times, The Worst of Times

By Hildy Grossman

ULC Founder & President

How we can cope with the pain and suffering in the world today.

November 2020 | Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Joint Statement on Triage Considerations for Lung Cancer Patients

Provided by LungCan

Collective of lung cancer organizations

Our community is in great turmoil and distress. Our ability to change the situation is limited. Here’s what we can do.

Linnea Olson

October 2020 | republished

The Relaxed Hostess

By Linnea Olson

2020 Fan Award Recipient

Cancer crashed my party more than fourteen years ago. The guest from hell. Uncouth, unkempt, possessed of a nasty disposition and with no respect for boundaries. Lousy fucking company.

Hildy Grossman performing with The Follen Angels

Updated August 2020

Hildy’s Story

By Hildy Grossman

Founder and President of Upstage Lung Cancer

The story behind the motivation that inspired Upstage Lung Cancer.