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Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat with Dr. Catherine Meador
In April, we were joined by Catherine Meador, MD, PhD, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Meador discussed Transformed SCLC: Understanding Biology, Detection, and...
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
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Clinical Trial Access Isn’t Expanding. It’s Concentrating.
Clinical trials show us whether a new treatment is safe and effective. They are also an important way for patients to access cutting-edge care. For trials to truly serve the lung... -
Podcast: Lung Cancer Diagnosis—What Happens Next
What happens after a lung cancer diagnosis? In this first episode of LUNGevity’s Lung Cancer Voices of Hope podcast, lung cancer survivor Lisa Bistline shares her experience, from... -
Explaining BiTE® Therapy
A bi-specific T-cell engager (BiTE®) is a new type of engineered molecule used for the treatment of cancer. These molecules harness and activate T-cells, which are involved in the... -
Podcast: Why Community Matters in Lung Cancer Care
Why does finding community matter in lung cancer care? In this episode, lung cancer survivor and advocate Jill Feldman shares her experience, from losing multiple family members to... -
Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat: Who's Up Next?
Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat with Dr. Simon Heeke Join us for a YouTube Live on Friday, May 15, with Simon Heeke, PhD, MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Heeke will discuss... -
Scalp Care, Shaving, and Head Coverings: Comfort Through Hair Loss
This video is a recording from a LUNGevity virtual meetup. Each month, we host multiple virtual meetups for those impacted by lung cancer to meet and connect with others who... -
Meet The “Mini-Organs” of Lung Cancer Research
Though many of us would like to deny it, our neighbors affect us. Their loud music disturbs our sleep. The scent of their dinner wafts through an open window. The sight of their... -
SCLC Virtual Meetup
SCLC patients/survivors - Join us the 3rd Wednesday of every month to c onnect with others who share common experiences and build your community. Register in advance for this... -
Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat with Dr. Laura Alder
In March, we were joined by Laura Alder, MD, assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Medical Oncology at Duke University Medical Center, to discuss the topic of managing...
Precision, Partnership, Purpose: Lung Cancer Highlights from AACR 2026
Precision, Partnership, Purpose: Lung Cancer Highlights from AACR 2026
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting brought together thousands of cancer researchers, clinicians, advocates, and patients in San Diego from April 17–22. This year's theme—“Precision, Partnership, Purpose: Advancing Cancer Science to Save Lives Globally”—set a powerful tone for a meeting that showcased advances across the lung cancer landscape. One message was loud and clear. Science is accelerating, and we are reimagining how healthcare is delivered. From…
Podcast: Making the Most of Your Healthcare Visits
Podcast: Making the Most of Your Healthcare Visits
How do you make the most of your visits with your healthcare team? In this episode, lung cancer survivor Bill Morris shares his experience with lung cancer and how he approaches his healthcare visits now. Oncology nurse practitioner Rasheda Persinger shares her insights after 20 years of working with patients. Hosts Ann and Dr. Shields discuss with Bill and Rasheda what they wish every patient knew, from writing down questions before an appointment to asking about biomarker testing to why…
Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat with Dr. Simon Heeke
Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat with Dr. Simon Heeke
In May, we were joined by Simon Heeke, PhD, MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Heeke discussed biomarker identification and their potential roles in patients impacted by SCLC.Moderated by Misty Shields, MD, PhD, Indiana University School of Medicine, and LUNGevity’s Ann Fish-Steagall, SVP of Patient Services and Health Care Delivery, this monthly virtual series highlights the latest discoveries and breakthroughs for SCLC.
Watch Small Cell SMASHERS Live Sessions from HOPE Summit 2026
Watch Small Cell SMASHERS Live Sessions from HOPE Summit 2026
At HOPE Summit 2026—for the first time ever—we hosted Small Cell SMASHERS Live sessions with Misty Shields, MD, PhD, Indiana University School of Medicine. We recorded these sessions so everyone in the Small Cell Lung Cancer community can access the valuable information shared. Small Cell SMASHERS Live Recorded Sessions Blazing New Trails in SCLC: Exploring Genetics & Biology Deep in the Heart of Research: Texas-Sized SCLC Advances The New Frontier: FDA…
Watch HOPE Summit 2026 Videos
Watch HOPE Summit 2026 Videos
HOPE Summit 2026 was filled with old friends reuniting, new friends being made, and of course, plenty of inspirational and informative sessions designed to help people live well with lung cancer.For the second year in a row, select sessions were recorded so those who could not attend are still able to access the valuable information shared.HOPE Summit 2026 Recorded Sessions Keynote: Wagons Roll with Dr. Ross Camidge Back in the Saddle: Reclaiming Strength and Living Well …
Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat with Dr. Catherine Meador
Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat with Dr. Catherine Meador
In April, we were joined by Catherine Meador, MD, PhD, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Meador discussed Transformed SCLC: Understanding Biology, Detection, and Identifying Novel Targets. Moderated by Misty Shields, MD, PhD, Indiana University School of Medicine, and LUNGevity’s Ann Fish-Steagall, RN, BSN, SVP of Patient Services and Health Care Delivery, the monthly Small Cell SMASHERS series highlights the latest discoveries and breakthroughs for SCLC.
Podcast: Lung Cancer Diagnosis—What Happens Next
Podcast: Lung Cancer Diagnosis—What Happens Next
What happens after a lung cancer diagnosis? In this first episode of LUNGevity’s Lung Cancer Voices of Hope podcast, lung cancer survivor Lisa Bistline shares her experience, from initial scans and biopsies through multiple treatments, and the moment a later biopsy revealed a biomarker that led to a targeted therapy.Hosts Ann Steagall and Misty Shields, MD, PhD, then speak with Anne Chiang, MD, PhD, thoracic oncologist at Yale University, about what patients can expect at their first visit,…
Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat with Dr. Laura Alder
Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat with Dr. Laura Alder
In March, we were joined by Laura Alder, MD, assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Medical Oncology at Duke University Medical Center, to discuss the topic of managing brain metastases in SCLC.Moderated by Misty Shields, MD, PhD, Indiana University School of Medicine, and LUNGevity’s Ann Fish-Steagall, RN, BSN, SVP of Patient Services and Health Care Delivery, the monthly Small Cell SMASHERS series highlights the latest discoveries and breakthroughs for SCLC.
Artificial Intelligence in Lung Cancer: Hope vs. Hype
Artificial Intelligence in Lung Cancer: Hope vs. Hype
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping the future of cancer care, but such dramatic innovation also brings important questions.AI has evolved from early consumer tools (like autocorrect on phones, customer service chatbots, and personalized shopping recommendations) to advanced systems with the potential to revolutionize biomedical discovery and patient care. While there is tremendous excitement around AI, there is also a critical need to use it responsibly.Researchers are actively…
Why Immunotherapy Isn’t Perfect & How Scientists Are Working to Fix It
Why Immunotherapy Isn’t Perfect & How Scientists Are Working to Fix It
The human immune system is an intricate web of checks and balances that usually excels at detecting and destroying foreign invaders, such as bacteria and viruses, while protecting healthy tissue. But sometimes, the checks and balances get confused and stop the immune system from doing what’s right—such as killing tumor cells. Tumor cells are good at confusing the immune system because they originate from our healthy cells. They can often avoid detection by immune cells. Through several…
Biggest News from Berlin: Research Highlights from ESMO
Biggest News from Berlin: Research Highlights from ESMO
Lung cancer research was in the spotlight at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) meeting held October 17-21, 2025, in Berlin, Germany. With approximately 30,000 attendees from over 100 countries, this meeting gathered an international audience of clinicians, researchers, patient advocates, and representatives from the healthcare industry to discuss cutting-edge cancer research and share practice-changing clinical trial data. We saw data from studies that aim to build upon…
Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat with Dr. Trudy Oliver
Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat with Dr. Trudy Oliver
In November, Trudy Oliver, PhD, professor of pharmacology and cancer biology at Duke University School of Medicine and Duke Cancer Institute, discussed the origins of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and its impact on plasticity.Moderated by Dr. Misty Shields, Indiana University School of Medicine, and LUNGevity’s Ann Fish-Steagall, SVP of Patient Services and Health Care Delivery, this monthly virtual series highlights the latest discoveries and breakthroughs for SCLC.
Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat: Dr. Toby Campbell
Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat: Dr. Toby Campbell
In this Facebook Live on Tuesday, October 14, Toby Campbell, MD, MS, thoracic medical oncologist and chief of palliative care at the University of Wisconsin Health, discussed palliative care in small cell lung cancer.Moderated by Misty Shields, MD, PhD, IU Health, and LUNGevity’s Ann Fish-Steagall, RN, BSN, SVP of Patient Services and Health Care Delivery, the monthly Small Cell SMASHERS series highlights the latest discoveries and breakthroughs for SCLC.
FDA Approves First Maintenance Treatment for ES-SCLC
FDA Approves First Maintenance Treatment for ES-SCLC
On October 2, 2025, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of the combination treatment of lurbinectedin (Zepzelca®) plus atezolizumab (Tecentriq®) as the first maintenance (ongoing) therapy for patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). This approval is for patients who are currently benefiting from initial treatments, such as atezolizumab or atezolizumab plus chemotherapy. Atezolizumab is an immunotherapy that blocks the PD-L1 protein…
Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat: Dr. Sonam Puri
Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat: Dr. Sonam Puri
In this Facebook Live from September 30, Sonam Puri, MD, Department of Thoracic Oncology at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, discusses the importance of real-world data for treating small cell lung cancer.Moderated by Misty Shields, MD, PhD, IU Health, and LUNGevity’s Ann Fish-Steagall, RN, BSN, SVP of Patient Services and Health Care Delivery, the monthly Small Cell SMASHERS series highlights the latest discoveries and breakthroughs for SCLC.
Surviving LMD: Michelle Never Settled for “No”
Surviving LMD: Michelle Never Settled for “No”
Michelle knew what was wrong. She knew the headaches, regular vomiting, ear popping, and “whooshing” sounds in her head were all signs of leptomeningeal disease (LMD). The issue, however, is that LMD is so rare—only diagnosed in 5% of people with cancer—she had to advocate for the testing to prove it.“I called my clinic and said I needed a brain MRI because I think I have LMD. They didn’t want to schedule one, so I said, tell my doctor I’m demanding a brain MRI. I can tell him directly if I…
Integrative Oncology and Lung Cancer: Adding Complementary Therapy
Integrative Oncology and Lung Cancer: Adding Complementary Therapy
What Is Integrative Oncology? Integrative oncology is the use of complementary therapies alongside conventional lung cancer treatments like chemotherapy, targeted therapy, surgery, or immunotherapy. Integrative oncology—also called integrative medicine—is an evidence-informed whole-body approach to health. It is often used to address symptoms and side effects caused by disease or treatment and improve overall quality of life. Specific examples of integrative oncology for lung cancer…
Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat: Dr. Christopher Kniese
Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat: Dr. Christopher Kniese
On Friday, March 14, Christopher Kniese, MD, of IU Health, discussed the role of pulmonologists in SCLC, why the right diagnosis is key, logistics and importance of a bronchoscopy/biopsy, pulmonary rehab, and other topics.Moderated by Misty Shields, MD, IU Health, and LUNGevity’s Ann Fish-Steagall, SVP of Patient Services and Health Care Delivery, this monthly virtual series highlights the latest discoveries and breakthroughs in SCLC.
Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat: Drs. Baine and Rekhtman
Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat: Drs. Baine and Rekhtman
On Friday, February 28, Drs. and Rekhtman of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center joined us on Facebook Live to discuss the role of pathologists in SCLC, why the right diagnosis is key, and the logistics and importance of biopsies. They explained forms of SCLC such as atypical, transformed, and RB proficient.Moderated by Misty Shields, MD, PhD, IU Health, and LUNGevity’s Ann Fish-Steagall, SVP of Patient Services and Health Care Delivery, this monthly virtual series highlights the latest…
Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat: Dr. Mya Tran
Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat: Dr. Mya Tran
Mya Tran, PharmD, BCOP, joined us in January to discuss what people should expect during treatment for small cell lung cancer (SCLC), managing side effects related to SCLC therapy, as well as the importance of genomics and its role in molecularly informed clinical trials for SCLC. Moderated by Dr. Misty Shields, IU Health, and LUNGevity’s Ann Fish-Steagall, SVP of Patient Services and Health Care Delivery, this monthly virtual series highlights the latest discoveries and breakthroughs in SCLC.…
Treating Small Cell Lung Cancer: 2025 and Beyond
Treating Small Cell Lung Cancer: 2025 and Beyond
Read time: 2 minutes. Researchers have been trying to find new ways to treat small cell lung cancer (SCLC) for a long time. Those efforts are starting to pay off in big ways. Join Stephen Liu, MD, of Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Amy Moore, PhD, of LUNGevity Foundation, as they walk us through the treatment options for SCLC, including exciting breakthroughs on the horizon.This video was part of LUNGevity’s International Lung Cancer Survivorship Conference…
Real-World Examples of Patient Involvement in Designing Clinical Trials
Real-World Examples of Patient Involvement in Designing Clinical Trials
Read time: 2 minutes.Here we present the final video in our three-part series about how patients and researchers can work together to develop clinical trials. In the video below, LUNGevity again partnered with Rising Tide for Clinical Cancer Research to illustrate the power of having patients contribute to the research process. We use a real-world example to learn about patient-researcher collaborations through the POSITIVE study, a breast cancer-focused clinical trial. You can…
Developing Clinical Trials that Account for the Realities of Patient Life
Developing Clinical Trials that Account for the Realities of Patient Life
Read time: 2 minutes. We are pleased to continue our three-part series about how patients and researchers can work together to develop clinical trials. In this second video, LUNGevity again partnered with Rising Tide for Clinical Cancer Research to show how researchers and patient advocates can be empowered with tools to create clinical trials that resonate with patients and address the key issues they care about. If you missed the first video, How Can Patients…
The 5 Most Popular Lung Cancer Blogs From 2024
The 5 Most Popular Lung Cancer Blogs From 2024
Read time: 3 minutes. Throughout 2024 we published blogs sharing scientific meeting recaps, educational content, personal stories, treatment news, and so much more. Below are the most popular articles we published in 2024. If you’re looking for survivor features and personal stories, you can see all the lung cancer survivors we highlighted in 2024 right here. 2024 ASCO: Highlights of Lung Cancer Research In June, we recapped the annual American Society of…
Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat: Dr. Triparna Sen
Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat: Dr. Triparna Sen
Triparna Sen, PhD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, joined us for our September Small Cell SMASHERS Facebook Live event. Dr. Sen discussed the biology and the role of biomarkers in small cell lung cancer. Moderated by Dr. Misty Shields, IU Health, and LUNGevity’s Ann Fish-Steagall, SVP of Patient Services and Health Care Delivery, this monthly virtual series highlights the latest discoveries and breakthroughs in small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
Screening and Early Detection of Lung Cancer: Highlights from WCLC and ESMO 2024
Screening and Early Detection of Lung Cancer: Highlights from WCLC and ESMO 2024
Lung cancer screening and early detection were major topics of discussion at the World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC), held in San Diego from September 7-10, and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) conference in Barcelona from September 13-17. This fourth and final blog in our series of updates summarizes highlights from these discussions. You can read the other update blogs from these fall science meetings: Metastatic NSCLC Highlights Small Cell Lung Cancer…
Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat with Dr. Christine Lovly - Video
Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat with Dr. Christine Lovly - Video
Missed the Facebook Live? Watch the video!On Tuesday, October 8, Christine Lovly, MD, PhD, discussed the importance of clinical trials and the role of translational research in small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The discussion was moderated by Misty Shields, MD, IU Health, and LUNGevity’s Amy C. Moore, PhD and VP of Global Engagement and Research Partnerships. This monthly virtual series highlights the latest discoveries and breakthroughs for SCLC.
How Do Drugs Get Approved (and Fast-Tracked) by the FDA?
How Do Drugs Get Approved (and Fast-Tracked) by the FDA?
Read time: 5 minutes. This is Part 3 in our series on how drugs get approved to treat lung cancer. Part 1: Understanding Clinical Trials - Why Are They Important for Drug Development? Part 2: How We Define Success for a Clinical Trial The United States federal government aims to regulate prescription drugs to ensure people are receiving medication that’s safe and effective. Every prescribed drug in the U.S. has gone through a rigorous testing process that can…
How We Define Success for a Clinical Trial
How We Define Success for a Clinical Trial
Read time: 6 minutes. This is Part 2 of 3 in our series on how drugs get approved to treat lung cancer. Make sure to read Part 1 on the phases of clinical trials and why they are important for new drug development. We all want a treatment for lung cancer that is completely safe and entirely effective. While researchers are working toward that goal, the reality is we aren’t there yet. Every treatment we are considering comes with potential benefits and side effects. The…
Understanding Clinical Trials: Why Are They Important for Drug Development?
Understanding Clinical Trials: Why Are They Important for Drug Development?
Read time: 3 minutes.This is Part 1 in a 3-part series explaining how new drugs and treatments get approved to treat lung cancer. Parts 2 and 3 will be published in the coming weeks.Have you ever wondered how a new medicine or drug to treat lung cancer is brought to the people who need it? That’s what clinical trials help us do.According to the National Cancer Institute, a clinical trial is a type of research study that tests how well new medical approaches (such as screening tests, prevention…