What happened, in summary

Heidi was diagnosed with Stage IIIA lung cancer in October 2018. She was a lifelong health educator and fitness trainer with no symptoms that made her think of lung cancer. Imaging for an ovarian cyst unexpectedly found a mass in the upper lobe of her left lung and lymph nodes in the middle of her chest. The disease involved lymph nodes in 2 stations, so she was told it was inoperable and that chemoradiation was the available treatment option. Specific chemotherapy drugs and radiation schedule were not stated. The diagnosis shocked Heidi and her husband, Pierre, a retired primary care physician. Both had backgrounds in prevention, yet neither realized that people without a smoking history could develop lung cancer. That gap in awareness became a major part of Heidi’s response to the disease. After focusing first on getting through treatment, Heidi began sharing her story more publicly. In 2020, frustration with the lack of lung cancer awareness led to the creation of The White Ribbon Project, beginning with a white wooden ribbon on her front door. As of November 2024, Heidi was 6 years beyond diagnosis, active in advocacy, and using her story to emphasize that anyone with lungs can get lung cancer and that research can extend lives.