Boise Lung Cancer Survivor to Travel to Washington, D.C. to Ask Congress for Increased Research Funding

Boise resident and lung cancer survivor, Nancy Leeds will travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with her members of Congress during the American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day on March 29. As a part of the nationwide event, she will join more than 40 other people across the country who have been impacted by lung cancer to ask lawmakers to support $51 billion in research funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), $11.6 billion in funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and to support and protect Medicaid.

Nancy Leeds of Boise, Idaho is a LUNG FORCE Hero – someone whose life has been directly touched by lung cancer. Her lung cancer journey began just 6 months ago, when she went to doctor because of pelvic pain. She was shocked to eventually be diagnosed with lung cancer.

“I am inspired to participate in the advocacy work because I have experienced how scary a cancer diagnosis is. I had never even thought about being told I had cancer. Then one day it hits you in the face and your life changes. I’m lucky to have caught it early. That saved my life. I want the same opportunity for anyone that faces this diagnosis,” said Leeds. “I want to tell the world that the funding for cancer research at NIH and CDC made a difference in my having an early diagnosis. It is important that continued funding goes to NIH so others can have a similar benefit.”

During Advocacy Day, Leeds will speak with members of the Idaho Congressional delegation, or their staff, to share her personal experiences with lung cancer and explain why investments in public health, research funding and quality and affordable healthcare are important to her and so many like her.

The American Lung Association launched LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day in 2016 to ask members of Congress to support robust, sustainable and predictable federal funding increases for lung cancer research, prevention and quality and affordable healthcare. As a part of Advocacy Day, LUNG FORCE Heroes have succeeded in helping increase NIH lung cancer research funding by over 115%. Since 2016, more than 50 new therapies have been approved by the FDA to treat lung cancer—giving more hope to those impacted by this disease. In 2022, Heroes successfully urged Congress to extend funding for tax credits so more than three million Americans were able to keep affordable healthcare coverage through the federal and state marketplaces.

Nancy encourages others in Nevada to advocate for lung cancer research and healthcare protections by contacting their members of Congress, which they can do at Lung.org/AdvocacyDay. Learn more about Nancy’s story and the LUNG FORCE initiative at LUNGFORCE.org.