What if "one more medication" didn't have to feel like another punch? Host James Hiter sits down with ALK+ lung cancer survivor and patient advocate Stephanie Williams to demystify subcutaneous (SubQ) treatment delivery.

Diagnosed at 37 with stage 2 non-small cell lung cancer, Stephanie brings both her patient experience and her background as a registered nurse to this conversation. She explains what SubQ delivery is, how it compares to traditional IV infusion, what to expect during an injection, and why this option can mean less anxiety, fewer infection risks, and more time back with family.

You'll also hear Stephanie's clear, compassionate advice for the newly diagnosed: get biomarker testing, seek a second opinion, and connect with others who've walked this road.

Whether you're a patient, caregiver, or simply curious about how lung cancer treatment is evolving, this episode offers practical insight and a hopeful look at where care is headed.

Guests:

Stephanie Williams, Patient Advocate, LCFA's Speakers Bureau

Host: James Hiter, Patient Advocate, LCFA Board Member

READY TO TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT SubQ?

Download LCFA's free SubQ Conversation Toolkit — it includes a Treatment Delivery FAQ, a SubQ vs. IV infographic, and a Conversation Guide built specifically for your next appointment. Bring it with you and start the conversation with confidence. Get your free toolkit at: https://lcfamerica.org/about-lung-cancer/treatment/subcutaneous-delivery/

Transcript Link: https://lcfamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/LCFA-AMA-SubQ-Simpler-Way-Transcript.pdf

Show Notes Link: https://lcfamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/LCFA-AMA-SubQ-Simpler-Way-Show-Notes.pdf

Video: https://youtu.be/8UgbxAmuY0U

What does 14 years of living with stage 4 lung cancer actually look like? Host Annabelle Gurwitch welcomes patient advocate, mentor, and new grandmother Lysa Buonanno for a deeply honest conversation about long-term survival with ROS1-positive lung cancer.

Diagnosed at age 40 before biomarker testing was standard of care, Lysa learned about precision medicine through an online patient group, not her doctor. That knowledge led her to switch oncologists, undergo surgery for biomarker testing, and ultimately access targeted therapy that gave her five more years before progression. Today, she's on her fifth line of treatment via a Phase 1 clinical trial.

Annabelle and Lysa dive into:

• The hidden realities of clinical trial participation (travel, reimbursement, the famous "$20 airport lunch")
• Why lung cancer trials don't use placebos
• The life-changing power of patient community and biomarker-specific support groups
• Why second opinions matter—and what to say to your doctor
• How identity shifts after a serious diagnosis
• Why we say "the drug failed the patient," not the patient failed the drug
• Becoming a grandmother after a terminal diagnosis

Whether you're newly diagnosed, considering a clinical trial, or supporting a loved one with lung cancer, this episode delivers practical wisdom, scientific insight, and genuine hope.

Guests: Lysa Buonanno, patient advocate and 14-year ROS1 lung cancer survivor

Annabelle Gurwitch – Host, Author, and Patient Advocate New York Times bestselling author and LCFA Speakers Bureau member living with stage 4 EGFR+ lung cancer. Annabelle brings compassion, wit, and unflinching honesty to conversations about the real challenges of living with lung cancer. Diagnosed five years ago, she uses her platform to advocate for patients and raise awareness about treatment advances. Connect: https://www.annabellegurwitch.com/ | @annabellegurwitch LCFA Profile: https://lcfamerica.org/speaker-profile/annabelle-gurwitch/

Show Notes: https://lcfamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/LCFA-AMA-Living-Long-Term-w-Lung-Cancer-Show-Notes.pdf Transcript: https://lcfamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/LCFA-AMA-Living-Long-Term-w-Lung-Cancer-Transcript.pdf Video:

Resources:

• LCFA Website: https://lcfamerica.org
• Living With Lung Cancer AMA Podcast: https://lcfamerica.org/living-with-lung-cancer/ask-me-anything/
• LCFA Speakers Bureau: https://lcfamerica.org/speakers-bureau/
• LCFA Second Opinion Resources: https://lcfamerica.org/resources/second-opinion/
• Biomarker Testing Information: https://lcfamerica.org/lung-cancer-info/diagnosing-lung-cancer/biomarker-testing/
• Treatment Options Overview: https://lcfamerica.org/lung-cancer-info/treatment/
• Elevate Lung Cancer Care - Learn about your advanced ROS1+ or ALK+ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) diagnosis and ways to navigate care plan discussions - https://elevatelungcancercare.com/

What goes through your mind in the days before a lung cancer scan? In this honest conversation, host James Hiter talks with ALK+ patient advocate Jaymie Knox about scanxiety, drug resistance, and the mental gymnastics of living with targeted therapy.

Now seven years into treatment with alectinib, Jaymie shares why having a Plan B matters, how she keeps cancer from taking over her headspace, and why the language we use, "the medication failed me," not the other way around, makes a real difference for patients.

Together, James and Jaymie talk about:

Why drug resistance doesn't have to be the end of the road

How scanxiety changes over years of treatment

Practical ways to cope before, during, and after scans

The power of a strong care team and a clear Plan B

Hope grounded in real science and real options

Whether you're newly diagnosed or a long-term survivor, this episode offers honest encouragement for the road ahead.

Guests:

Jaymie Knox Voices of Hope Speakers Bureau Member | ALK+ Survivor & Advocate

Jaymie was diagnosed with stage 4 ALK-positive lung cancer in December 2018 at age 32 — newly married and ready to start the next chapter of her life. Her first doctor failed to stage her cancer or explain what lay ahead. She fought for better care and never looked back. Now living in Washington, D.C., Jaymie recently fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming a foster mom to two young children. She is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness in the lung cancer community and lives by a simple philosophy: "Have your moment, then turn the page."

James Hiter Endurance Athlete | Voices of Hope Speakers Bureau Member | Survivor

James brings curiosity, determination, and hard-won wisdom to conversations about living with lung cancer. Diagnosed in 2017 with a rare multicystic presentation, he’s undergone three lung surgeries and now operates on roughly 55% of his original lung capacity—yet he still runs every single day. His journey through multidisciplinary tumor boards, second opinions, and ongoing surveillance gives him an intimate understanding of what patients and caregivers face. James asks the questions patients actually want answered because he’s wondered them himself.

Show Notes -

https://lcfamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/LCFA-AMA-Scanxiety-Managing-Drug-Resistance-Fears-Notes.pdf

Transcript -

https://lcfamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/LCFA-AMA-Drug-Resistance-Scanxiety-Transcript.pdf

Watch the video - https://youtu.be/O6F_OLwjRHM