Getting Diagnosed With Lung Cancer During the Pandemic

After a shocking diagnosis, Natalie Brown is on a mission for advocacy.

My name is Natalie Brown, and at age 33, I was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. I was told that I would never be cured.

I don’t smoke or have a family history of lung cancer. I lived a pretty healthy and active lifestyle, so I was extremely shocked by this diagnosis. Also, being diagnosed during COVID was extremely difficult. I did not have a targetable mutation, so I was not able to be on targeted therapies.

Over the course of my treatment, I have had four different types of chemo, immunotherapy, and radiation. I also participated in three clinical trials. As a part of a clinical trial program, I received a bilateral lung transplant to remove the cancer from my lungs.

Unfortunately, my cancer returned after the transplant surgery.

Now, I work with several organizations to continue to help advocate for and educate others about this horrible disease.

Whether you are a patient, survivor, caregiver, or loved one touched by cancer, your story can have an enormous impact. You can provide hope and inspiration to someone recently diagnosed with cancer or a patient undergoing therapy.