Living With Lung Cancer: Ask Me Anything

What if "one more medication" didn't have to feel like another punch? Host James Hiter sits down with ALK+ lung cancer survivor and patient advocate Stephanie Williams to demystify subcutaneous (SubQ) treatment delivery. Diagnosed at 37 with stage 2 non-small cell lung cancer, Stephanie brings both her patient experience and her background as a registered nurse to this conversation. She explains w...

What does 14 years of living with stage 4 lung cancer actually look like? Host Annabelle Gurwitch welcomes patient advocate, mentor, and new grandmother Lysa Buonanno for a deeply honest conversation about long-term survival with ROS1-positive lung cancer. Diagnosed at age 40 before biomarker testing was standard of care, Lysa learned about precision medicine through an online patient group, not h...

What goes through your mind in the days before a lung cancer scan? In this honest conversation, host James Hiter talks with ALK+ patient advocate Jaymie Knox about scanxiety, drug resistance, and the mental gymnastics of living with targeted therapy. Now seven years into treatment with alectinib, Jaymie shares why having a Plan B matters, how she keeps cancer from taking over her headspace, and wh...

Mental health is one of the most important — and most overlooked — parts of living with lung cancer. Host James Hiter and fellow survivor Jaymie Knox have an honest conversation about the emotional toll of a stage 4 diagnosis, how to cope with scanxiety, the power of community, and why it's okay not to be okay. Jaymie shares how reframing her thinking, building a strong support network, becoming a...

Lung cancer treatment takes more than physical strength — it takes time. Host James Hiter sits down with lung cancer survivor Maida Mangiameli to talk about “time toxicity” — the often overlooked burden of treatment on daily life. They discuss: What time toxicity really means for patients The hours spent in treatment, recovery, and waiting How lung cancer impacts work, routines, and independence T...

No one hands you a manual when someone you love is diagnosed with lung cancer. One day you're a daughter, a partner, a friend — and the next, you're a scheduler, an advocate, a medical translator, and an emotional anchor. And through all of it, you are still a person with your own fears, your own exhaustion, and your own life. In this episode of Living With Lung Cancer: Ask Me Anything, host Annab...

What if treating early-stage lung cancer could be as simple as lying still for 10 minutes—no surgery, no anesthesia, no hospital stay? In this episode, host James Hiter talks with Dr. Drew Moghanaki, Chief of Thoracic Oncology at UCLA, about SABR (stereotactic ablative radiation)—a game-changing treatment that delivers highly precise radiation in just 1-5 sessions. Learn why every patient should a...

Changing doctors can feel overwhelming, but it’s often an important part of getting the right care—especially in lung cancer. In this episode of Living With Lung Cancer: Ask Me Anything, host Annabelle Gurwitch talks with advocate Colette Smith about how to communicate your needs, recognize when a doctor isn’t the right fit, and build a care team that supports your goals. Learn practical strategie...

Communication with your oncologist can make all the difference in your lung cancer journey. In this episode, host Annabelle Gurwitch talks with thoracic oncologist Dr. Alice Shaw about how to have more effective conversations with your care team. Learn practical strategies for discussing treatment goals, managing side effects, understanding biomarker testing, and knowing when to seek a second opin...

In this episode of Living With Lung Cancer: Ask Me Anything, host Annabelle Gurwitch sits down with Dr. Alice Shaw from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for an in-depth conversation about ROS1-positive lung cancer. Learn about this rare biomarker affecting only 1-2% of lung cancer patients, breakthrough targeted therapies, and how next-generation treatments are transforming outcomes. Dr. Shaw, an inte...

Side effects can be painful, frustrating, and deeply misunderstood—especially when they’re invisible. In this episode, host Annabelle Gurwitch and advocate Colette Smith share candid stories about surgery recovery, TKI toxicity, anxiety, and the everyday challenges patients rarely talk about. Learn how to navigate tough conversations with doctors, what to do when side effects interrupt your life,...

How am I supposed to afford this? It's the question many lung cancer patients are afraid to ask out loud. In our premiere episode, host Annabelle Gurwitch tackles the financial toxicity of cancer care—the hidden costs beyond medical bills, insurance battles, medical debt, and where to find help when you can't afford treatment. Financial toxicity is one of the most difficult and overlooked challeng...