Stage III Lung Adenocarcinoma: Heidi's Patient Story

What happened, in summary

Heidi Nafman-Onda was 55 when a phone call changed her life. She was told she had Stage IIIA adenocarcinoma of the lung, that her prognosis was not good, and that she should get her affairs in order. Her husband, Pierre, was with her and began to cry, which made Heidi realize how serious the situation was. Alongside fear, she felt the stigma that often surrounds lung cancer. She questioned why people with other cancers often receive immediate compassion, while lung cancer patients may be asked about smoking history. As Heidi learned more, she became determined to speak publicly. On August 1, 2019, she posted publicly on social media that she had lung cancer while training for a large bike race fundraiser. She emphasized that she did not look or feel like the stereotype of lung cancer and that anyone with lungs can get the disease. After feeling dismissed by cancer centers, Heidi and Pierre began making large wooden white ribbons to raise awareness. That idea grew into The White Ribbon Project. As of November 2021, Heidi described herself as 3 years out and living a very high-quality life, though the video did not report her treatment details or NED status.