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Lung Cancer Awareness Month highlights (and the 5 next steps that will create more survivors)

Looking back at Lung Cancer Awareness Month 2024

This Lung Cancer Awareness Month, the Lung Health Foundation got to work spreading a message of HOPE. To us, that means Helping Others Persevere through Experience. And our community stepped up to help!

We kicked the month off with a solutions-themed Breathe Change Policy Forum that brought thought leaders together to explore innovative solutions to lung cancer screening access!
We kicked the month off with a solutions-themed Breathe Change Policy Forum that brought thought leaders together to explore innovative solutions to lung cancer screening access!
Unstoppable advocates Kelly Graham-Miele and Carole Vivier met with the Premier of Manitoba. Their advocacy led to Lung Cancer Awareness Month being officially recognized by the province of Manitoba!
Unstoppable advocates Kelly Graham-Miele and Carole Vivier met with the Premier of Manitoba. Their advocacy led to Lung Cancer Awareness Month being officially recognized by the province of Manitoba!
Steve Blake, our 2024 Ambassador of Hope, spread lung cancer awareness at the Calgary Flames’ Hockey Fights Cancer night. He shared the importance of early detection and gave tips for maintaining a positive attitude.
Steve Blake, our 2024 Ambassador of Hope, spread lung cancer awareness at the Calgary Flames’ Hockey Fights Cancer night. He shared the importance of early detection and gave tips for maintaining a positive attitude.
We sponsored the Canadian Cancer Society’s Pan-Canadian Lung Cancer Summit. It was the perfect opportunity to connect with members of our coast-to-coast Lung Cancer Patient Advisory Committee! From left to right: Kelly Graham-Miele (Manitoba), Jessica Buckley (LHF CEO), Samantha Ball (LHF Public Policy & Advocacy Director), Mary Ann Bradley (Ontario), Diane Colton (Alberta), Riley Sanders (LHF, Senior Manager of Public Affairs), Heather Hogan (New Brunswick)

We sponsored the Canadian Cancer Society’s Pan-Canadian Lung Cancer Summit. It was the perfect opportunity to connect with members of our coast-to-coast Lung Cancer Patient Advisory Committee!

From left to right: Kelly Graham-Miele (Manitoba), Jessica Buckley (LHF CEO), Samantha Ball (LHF Public Policy & Advocacy Director), Mary Ann Bradley (Ontario), Diane Colton (Alberta), Riley Sanders (LHF, Senior Manager of Public Affairs), Heather Hogan (New Brunswick)

Katie Hulan and Steve Blake – two Canadians who have outlived their initial prognosis – shared their unique experiences with the media.
Katie Hulan and Steve Blake – two Canadians who have outlived their initial prognosis – shared their unique experiences with the media.
We worked with the Toronto Maple Leafs to ensure that people living with lung cancer were represented in the crowd at Hockey Fights Cancer night at Scotiabank arena. Representation matters!
We worked with the Toronto Maple Leafs to ensure that people living with lung cancer were represented in the crowd at Hockey Fights Cancer night at Scotiabank arena. Representation matters!
As part of the Cancer Action Now coalition, we advocated for better care at Queen’s Park in Toronto.
As part of the Cancer Action Now coalition, we advocated for better care at Queen’s Park in Toronto.
We sent two members of our Lung Cancer Patient Advocacy Committee to the Clinical Trials Ontario conference – stay tuned to learn about their findings!
We sent two members of our Lung Cancer Patient Advocacy Committee to the Clinical Trials Ontario conference – stay tuned to learn about their findings!
LHF is a proud member of Right2Survive, a coalition that spreads awareness of lung cancer in Canada, and of the vital importance of access to screening programs. The coalition’s Edmonton parliamentary reception was attended by Tim, Kelly and Diane – hardworking members of our Lung Cancer Patient Advisory Committee!
LHF is a proud member of Right2Survive, a coalition that spreads awareness of lung cancer in Canada, and of the vital importance of access to screening programs. The coalition’s Edmonton parliamentary reception was attended by Tim, Kelly and Diane – hardworking members of our Lung Cancer Patient Advisory Committee!

Thank you to Steve Blake, our 2024 Ambassador of H.O.P.E.

When 56-year-old Blake first heard the words ‘inoperable lung cancer with only 12-24 months to live,’ his world crumbled. But today, Blake isn’t just surviving — he’s thriving. As an Ambassador of H.O.P.E., he’s become a beacon of hope for thousands by sharing his story and urging Canadians to get checked out if anything ever changes with their breathing. Steve’s advice? “Live life, love something!”

NEXT STEPS: The 5 Things You Can Do RIGHT NOW to Help Create More Lung Cancer Survivors

Thanks to revolutionary advances in treatments, screening, diagnostics, radon awareness, tobacco control, and research, the 32,000 Canadians who will face a lung cancer diagnosis this year have reasons to be optimistic. Still, there’s a LOT of work to be done…

  1. Embrace new treatments
    Hope is on the horizon in the form of more than a dozen new drugs in queue for review from Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA). To make sure that patient voices are always a part of the plan, LHF has joined forces with Lung Cancer Canada and Canadian Cancer Survivor Network to create a single, consolidated Patient Input Survey. This allows us to create joint patient input submissions to Canada’s Drug Agency.

    Our challenge to you: Add your voice to our submission!

  2. Stop the stigma
    Nobody deserves lung cancer, but blame-and-shame language runs rampant in many lung cancer conversations. For some reason, everyone wants to know whether a person living with lung cancer smoked prior to their diagnosis – as if that should affect how much one cares.

    Our challenge to you: Learn about lung cancer stigma!
  1. Explore innovative solutions to screening
    Let’s think outside the box, and maybe even outside the clinic! LHF is exploring real-world solutions to screening accessibility. Right now, we’re studying the feasibility of filling gaps with mobile lung cancer screening in Ontario.

    Our challenge to you: Read our report and think about the barriers to screening, including geography!

  2. Spread radon awareness
    Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer overall, and the leading cause of lung cancer in Canadians who have had a limited tobacco smoking history or have never smoked. LHF is working to increase radon awareness and advocate for solutions.

    Our challenge to you: Buy a test kit to know your levels (they’re available at cost through the Evict Radon National Study!)

  3. Invest in lung cancer programming
    Our work in lung cancer doesn’t end on November 30th. We urgently need your help to keep the momentum going all year long.

    Our challenge to you: Donate to help build a better tomorrow. Our Shine a Light holiday campaign is on now!

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