Local Lung Cancer Survivor Travels to Washington, D.C. to Urge Lawmakers to Support Lifesaving Research, Prevention and Access to Care

On Wednesday, March 25, Decatur resident and lung cancer survivor, La’Kesha Johnson, will travel to Washington, D.C., to meet with her members of Congress for the American Lung Association’s 11th annual LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day. She will share her story and ask lawmakers to support $51.3 billion in research funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and $11.6 billion in public health funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as improve access to quality, affordable healthcare coverage.

Johnson was diagnosed with stage 1A lung cancer in 2014. She was only 43 years old with no smoking history and was shocked by her diagnosis. She had undergone a chest CT scan for an unrelated issue, and her doctors found a nodule and recommended surgery. While the surgery had successfully removed the cancer, Johnson tragically suffered a stroke while in the hospital. Her daughter was only five years old at the time, and Johnson was committed to her recovery. She underwent speech, occupational and cognitive therapy. She remains cancer free.

“I am a survivor, fighter and mother. I knew that lung cancer was one of the most aggressive forms of cancer, but I couldn't think about the possibility of leaving my daughter,” said Johnson. “I fought hard to regain my health for me and my daughter. Now I am fighting for increased awareness, early detection and prevention programs for her and all little girls and women around the world.”

During LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day, Johnson will speak with Georgia members of Congress and their staff to share her personal experience with lung cancer and explain why investments in research funding, public health and access to care are important to her.

Since 2016, thousands of LUNG FORCE Heroes from across the country have put a human face to the nation’s leading cause of cancer death and urged lawmakers to support robust, sustainable and predictable federal funding increases for lung cancer research and prevention, as well as quality and affordable healthcare. These efforts have contributed to increasing the five-year lung cancer survival rate to nearly 30%, which is a 26% increase over the last five years.

On March 25, support the LUNG FORCE Heroes by visiting LUNGFORCE.org/AdvocacyDay, and contact your senators and representative and ask them to support $51.3 billion in research funding for the NIH and $11.6 billion in public health funding for the CDC, as well as improve access to quality, affordable healthcare coverage. 

For more details about the American Lung Association’s ongoing efforts to end lung cancer, visit LUNGFORCE.org.