By Jennifer Colosimo

Lindsay Wagner has dealt with her fair share of challenges, but her biggest challenge yet emerged at 41, when she was diagnosed with Stage 4b Adenocarcinoma Lung Cancer with ALK-positive mutation, metastatic to her brain, liver and bones. With the help of her friends, family and dogged determination, she has defied expectations, recently celebrating over a year as a “cancer thriver” after initially being given only three months to live. Today, she lives her life to the fullest, dedicating her time to destigmatizing lung cancer and advocating for earlier, preventative screenings.

Q: Why is it important for people to look past the stigma associated with lung cancer

Lindsay Wagner: The truth is, anyone with lungs can get lung cancer. You can get it at any age, whether you have smoked or not. I was completely shocked when the doctors told me I had lung cancer. I never smoked a day in my life. Turns out, everyone has two copies of the ALK gene, and mine mutated. Once it did, it caused the cells to turn into cancer, which then spread throughout my body. My mission is to change the face of lung cancer. If you catch it early enough through screenings, you have a much higher rate of survival.

Q: How do you advocate for earlier, preventative screenings?

LW: My social media platform allows me to expand my reach for all cancer awareness opportunities, in particular the lung and brain. I have also worked with the American Cancer Society, ALK Positive and Voice of Cancer Patients to reach an even broader audience. By creating fun and engaging content, I have been able to target a younger audience to encourage them to see the benefits of early preventative screening.