Free ME From Lung Cancer

02/21/2026

Lung cancer in “never smokers” is rising and it doesn’t behave the same as smoking-related lung cancer. Experts say we need a new approach: better awareness, smarter risk screening, and more personalized treatment.

Lung cancer in never smokers is rising, with distinct risks and biology, highlighting the need for tailored screening, prevention, and treatment.

02/21/2026

Lung cancer doesn't just impact humans. Lindsey Vonn is grieving the loss of her beloved dog just days after her Olympic crash and surgeries. She shared that Leo had been battling lung cancer after previously surviving lymphoma.

It’s been a hard couple of weeks for Olympic skiing legend Lindsey Vonn.

02/21/2026

A simple screening can change everything. A quick low-dose CT scan caught one man’s lung cancer early and helped save his life. If you or someone you love has a history of smoking, ask your doctor whether you qualify for lung cancer screening.

A routine lung cancer screening helped Louisville’s David Marshall catch cancer early and avoid major surgery. Learn why early detection can save lives.

02/21/2026

Early detection of lung cancer takes teamwork between patients, primary care, specialists, and community partners all working together to spot risk sooner and speed up screening and follow-up. If you’re eligible for a low-dose CT scan, start the conversation with your doctor.

Learn about our work with the American Cancer Society

02/20/2026

Laura Hamann went in for a scan after a miscarriage, lung cancer was the last thing on anyone's mind. She was in her early 40s. She had never smoked a cigarette in her life.

Lung cancer doesn’t always look like what we’ve been taught. More younger women who’ve never smoked are being diagnosed.

Laura Hamann's story is part of a growing trend that's changing everything you thought you knew about lung cancer.

02/16/2026

Presenting Central Maine Medical Center with a $10,000 grant to support their Early Lung Cancer Program; pictured left to right are Deb Violette, President of Free ME From Lung Cancer, Dr. Carmine Frumiento, MD, and surrounding them are Central Maine Health Care’s Thoracic Thunder Cats.

02/15/2026

Presenting MaineHealth Waldo/Pen Bay with a $10,000 check to support their Early Lung Cancer Program; pictured from left is Letitia Stover, RN, BSN, BCEN, CHA, Lung Cancer Screening Program Navigator.

02/14/2026

For many never-smokers with lung adenocarcinoma, finding the tumor’s driver mutation can open the door to targeted treatment. As this piece notes, roughly 80% may have actionable alterations. That makes biomarker testing and research investment personal, not optional.

Lung cancer, traditionally linked to to***co smoking, is undergoing a paradigm shift as an increasing number of cases emerge among individuals who have never smoked. This diminutive yet impactful

02/13/2026

Some people with lung cancer have rare gene changes and when those changes are found, treatment options can look very different. This piece breaks down what ‘rare alterations’ mean and why comprehensive biomarker testing matters.

New targeted drugs transform HER2, ROS1 and ALK lung cancer care, boosting brain response and survival—while precision choices still matter.

02/13/2026

We’re proud to present St. Mary’s Hospital with our grant in support of their early lung cancer screening program. Pictured left to right are Cindy Brousseau, R.T.R. (CV), Director of Diagnostic Services - Imaging & Cardiology; Deb Violette, President of Free ME From Lung Cancer, and Deb Anthoine, Executive Director of Philanthropy.

02/13/2026

Pat Grant didn’t think she’d see her granddaughter turn one. A new ‘liquid biopsy’ blood test helped match her lung cancer to a treatment and she says she’s feeling stronger ‘from my toes up.’

Pat Grant's inoperable cancer diagnosis made her think she would never meet her first grandchild.

02/04/2026

Misinformation is costing lives by discouraging lung cancer screening. A joint statement from major US medical societies warns that harms of low-dose CT screening are often misreported—fueling fear and keeping people from a test that can save lives.

Find out more about how misinformation may be reducing lung cancer screening and what experts say about the real evidence.