November Reflections: Lung Cancer Awareness Month and My Brother’s Journey

It’s hard to believe it’s already November — Lung Cancer Awareness Month — and almost a year since my brother, Josh, was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Even writing those words still feels surreal. When we first heard the diagnosis, what I personally felt (and this is the first time I’ve ever said it out loud, outside of my own head) was that it was a death sentence.

But what has unfolded since that day has been nothing short of remarkable.

The months that followed were filled with countless trips from the East Coast to the West Coast — helping Josh through chemo, being a support system, and making sure he had everything he needed. There were many late-night calls, endless texts, and virtual visits to go over the information from his appointments. Josh wasn’t always retaining everything the doctors were saying, so we became his second set of ears, making sure nothing slipped through the cracks.

After rounds of chemo and radiation — and now with a lifelong pill to help keep the cancer at bay — Josh is doing better than any of us ever dared to imagine. The surgery to remove part of his lung is still a topic of conversation, but not nearly as often as it once was. We’ve learned to take each day as it comes, and we’ve all grown closer because of it. But that’s what family does — we show up, we love hard, and we hold each other through it all.

As Lung Cancer Awareness Month begins, I want to share Josh’s story not just to celebrate his strength, but to spread awareness — especially for those who think lung cancer “could never happen to them.” Josh never smoked. He’s young. And yet here we are.

Lung cancer doesn’t only affect smokers. In fact, a growing number of cases are being diagnosed in people who have never smoked. Early detection through screening can save lives — and the more we talk about it, the more we can push for awareness and accessibility to screening for everyone, not just those traditionally considered “high risk.”

Josh’s first symptoms weren’t what anyone would expect. He had shoulder pain that just wouldn’t go away and some shortness of breath. He went to his primary care doctor multiple times and was given a clean bill of health each time. It wasn’t until he saw a cardiologist — who decided to take an extra step and order a chest X-ray — that they discovered an abnormality. That decision set all the wheels in motion for his diagnosis and, ultimately, his treatment.

Please, pay attention to your body. You know yourself better than anyone else. If something doesn’t feel right, keep pushing for answers. Don’t let “everything looks fine” be the end of the conversation.

This Month Is for the Fighters

This month, my heart is with every single person fighting lung cancer — and with the families, friends, and caregivers who fight right alongside them. You are the quiet heroes, the ones showing up every day, even when the road feels impossibly hard.

To those currently in treatment: may you find strength in the small victories, comfort in the support that surrounds you, and hope in every new sunrise. Every appointment, every infusion, every pill, every moment you choose to keep going — that’s courage in its purest form.

To the survivors: your stories remind us that there is hope, that breakthroughs happen, and that determination can carry you farther than you ever imagined. You are living proof that “stage 4” doesn’t mean “the end” — it can mean the beginning of a new kind of fight, and a new appreciation for life itself.

To the families, friends, and caregivers — the ones holding hands, taking notes at appointments, organizing rides, cooking meals, and making calls across time zones — your love is the backbone of this battle. You may not be in the hospital bed, but you are very much in the fight.

And we can’t forget the incredible providers — the oncologists, nurses, techs, and staff — who devote their lives to walking this road with patients and families. You answer 1,001 questions with patience and grace. You celebrate the wins, you grieve the losses, and you keep showing up, day after day, in a field where it’s not always happy endings. You can never be forgotten, and we thank you deeply for the work you do, the hope you give, and the humanity you bring to one of life’s hardest battles.

Be Loud

If you know someone walking this road — whether it’s lung cancer or any cancer — speak up, reach out, and show up.Advocate for them, ask the questions they can’t, and remind them they’re not alone.

Let this page be a space of encouragement, strength, and hope — a reminder to keep fighting, keep believing, and keep talking about cancer awareness. Together, our voices can make a difference.

Keep believing. Keep pushing. Keep talking about lung cancer — because awareness saves lives.

 Hope breathes here — one breath, one day, one victory at a time.