Please note: Items that appear in the Community Postings section are submitted by visitors. Posts are reviewed to ensure they are appropriate for our audience, but typically are not edited by University Marketing and Communications.
Event explores lung cancer beyond smoking
ALCSI (Advocates for Lung Cancer Screening and Intervention) and CCI recently hosted a joint General Body Meeting featuring guest speaker Kelley Sciko, a Stage IV lung cancer patient currently enrolled in a targeted therapy clinical trial.
Kelley shared her diagnosis journey, including the shock of learning she had lung cancer despite never having smoked. She spoke candidly about initially laughing when she heard the news because it felt impossible and surreal. She discussed living with EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma, participating in a clinical trial since 2022, and managing her cancer through daily targeted therapy. While not cured, she described herself as “cautiously optimistic,” emphasizing her commitment to finding positivity even in difficult circumstances.
During the discussion, Kelley highlighted the importance of self-advocacy in healthcare, reducing stigma surrounding lung cancer, and rethinking screening criteria that heavily rely on smoking history. She also addressed the realities of ongoing treatment, including routine scans and the anxiety that can accompany them.
The key message for students: You do not need to be a smoker to get lung cancer. Increased awareness, empathy in patient care, and advocacy for early detection are essential in changing the narrative around this disease.