Advocating for Lung Cancer Research with the Lung Association

Heather Lohmann of Frederick, Maryland lost her mom Christine Dunn to lung cancer in 2019—only seven weeks after she was diagnosed and—and four days before her parent’s 50th wedding anniversary. Her mom was only 69 years old when she died, the loss changed Lohmann’s life forever.

“My Mom was a beautiful woman. She was so kind, optimistic, and had this calming quietness about her. She was the heart of our family. We hurt every day. Lung cancer hurts on a multitude of levels,” said Lohmann.

“I struggle through sleepless nights asking myself why my mom was diagnosed with Stage 1 lung cancer and died seven weeks later,” continued Lohmann. “Why after six weeks of radiation and chemotherapy was she urgently rushed to the hospital for shortness of breath? Aren’t chemo and radiation intended to kill the cancer? My biggest question is why in 11 short days did my mom’s cancer spread to a terminal stage?”

Her mother’s death haunts her, and also inspires her to help other lung cancer patients. This week Lohmann virtually met with Maryland members of Congress for LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day and asked them to support funding for the National Institutes of Health, so there can be better treatments and improved methods of early detection for lung cancer, and to ask members of Congress to protect patients with pre-existing conditions, including lung cancer.

Lohmann will continue to advocate for lung cancer diagnosis, research and awareness. She says, “mom’s smile will never be forgotten by her five children, 15 grandchildren, or by her son and daughter in law. Lung cancer stole my mom from her family, but in taking her last breath, my mother’s voice will forever be heard. My family is hopeful that mom’s story will spread awareness and encourage legislative action so that other families suffer less at the hands of lung cancer.”

American Lung Association's LUNG FORCE unites women and their loved ones across the country to stand together for lung health and against lung cancer. Lung cancer is the #1 cancer killer of both men and women in the U.S., and about every five minutes a woman in this country learns she has lung cancer. More must be done to raise awareness and the research funding needed to defeat lung cancer once and for all. To learn more visit Lung.org.