Young Lung Cancer Initiative Podcast

Young Lung Cancer Initiative
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The Young Lung Cancer Initiative Podcast brings together patient stories, expert insight, education, and real community resources for people impacted by lung cancer. You’ll hear honest conversations with patients living with this disease. You’ll hear researchers and oncologists break down evolving science. You’ll hear practical discussions about treatment decisions, side effects, insurance barriers, mental health, caregiving, and quality of life. We also share community based support resources designed specifically for young people and people without smoking history navigating lung cancer. This podcast centers the lived experience while staying grounded in evidence based medicine. If you are a patient, caregiver, advocate, or clinician who wants deeper understanding of what lung cancer actually looks like in real life, this is for you. New episodes released regularly.

  1. Jul 13

    HER2 Lung Cancer Is Isolating. Until You Find Your People | Ep 3 of 3

    When you're diagnosed with HER2 lung cancer, most people around you have never heard of it. In this final episode, Samantha and Loryn talk about what it meant to find each other and a community that actually understands. They cover where to find other HER2 patients, how social media opened doors that didn't exist before, what YLCI has meant to both of them, and why connection changes how you navigate this disease. This is Part 3 of a 3-part conversation. Watch Parts 1 and 2 on our channel. Thanks to Boehringer Ingelheim for sponsoring this series. YLCI retains full editorial control. Chapters: 00:00 The Importance of Community in Cancer Journeys 02:17 Finding HER2 Positive Lung Cancer Patients 04:11 The Role of Social Media in Advocacy 06:46 The Impact of Young Lung Cancer Initiative 08:58 Navigating Support Systems 11:44 Building Connections and Future Initiatives This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition.

  2. Jul 13

    Two Women With HER2 Lung Cancer Share What No One Sees | Ep 2 of 3

    Two women with HER2 driven lung cancer open up about what treatment, grief, and living with stage 4 really looks like from the inside. This is what people don't see. Samantha and Loryn were both diagnosed with HER2 lung cancer in their 30s. In this episode they share what their treatment journeys actually looked like, why second opinions changed everything, how a stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis reshapes your identity and relationships, and what they're still grieving that the people around them never see. HER2 mutated ung cancer affects roughly 2 to 4 percent of lung cancer patients. But the medical side is only part of the story. This conversation goes deeper into what it means to live with this diagnosis as a young person, a parent, a partner, and a patient who is still figuring out how to plan for a future that feels uncertain. Topics covered in this episode: What HER2 lung cancer treatment actually looks like, including traditional chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and when to consider switching Why both Samantha and Loryn sought multiple opinions and how that shaped their care How lung cancer changes your sense of identity when the things that defined you start to shift The impact on careers, relationships, and the caregiver-patient dynamic What it feels like to grieve your future while still being here How to balance planning ahead with living in the present when you scan every few months Thanks to Boehringer Ingelheim for sponsoring this series. YLCI retains full editorial control. Chapters: 00:00 Navigating the Journey of HER2 Lung Cancer 01:37 Treatment Experiences and Decisions 03:27 The Importance of Second Opinions 04:48 Advocating for Yourself in Treatment 06:41 Impact on Personal Identity 09:16 Changes in Relationships and Daily Life 12:22 Emotional Challenges of Cancer 16:22 Balancing Future Planning with Present Living ⚠️ Disclaimer This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition.

  3. Jul 9

    Two Women Thought They COULDN'T Get Lung Cancer. They Both Did| Ep 1 of 3

    "I Googled it. It says poor prognosis. It put me in a really dark place." -Samantha Samantha Murrell and Loryn Fadus are two young women living with HER2 mutated ung cancer. In this first conversation, they sit down with YLCI co-founder Leah Phillips to talk about the road to diagnosis- the missed windows, the misdiagnoses, the shock of hearing "stage four," and what they wish they had known from the start. This is Part 1 of a three-part conversation. Parts 2 and 3 cover treatment decisions, living with HER2 lung cancer, and what community has meant to both of them. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:53 Samantha's first symptoms 02:32 Hearing the diagnosis 03:42 Stage four and an initial prognosis 04:30 Discovering HER2 Exon 20 Mutation through biomarker testing 05:23 "I thought lung cancer was the one I couldn't get" 07:14 Loryn's symptoms and the path to diagnosis 13:44 Learning about HER2 and finding hope 15:02 What to tell your newly diagnosed self 16:02 Misunderstandings about oncogene driven lung cancer 18:32 What's coming in Part 2 This series is proudly sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim. YLCI retains full editorial control of all content. ⚠️ Disclaimer This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition.

  4. Jun 25

    HER2 Lung Cancer Resistance and Emerging Research With Dr. Kyle Concannon | Ep. 3 of 3

    In Part 3 of our HER2-driven lung cancer series, Leah Phillips and thoracic medical oncologist Dr. Kyle Concannon (UC Health, University of Colorado) tackle the harder questions. They get into what resistance actually means, the difference between on-target and off-target resistance, why a cancer can sometimes transform into a different type entirely, and the emerging research and combination approaches being studied for HER2 lung cancer patients. This is a conversation many patients will eventually need to have. The research is moving fast and there is real reason for hope. Thanks to Boehringer Ingelheim for supporting this series. YLCI retains full editorial control. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition.

  5. Jun 25

    HER2 Lung Cancer Treatment & Monitoring With Dr. Kyle Concannon | Ep. 2 of 3

    Once you know you have HER2 lung cancer, what comes next? In Part 2 of our HER2-driven lung cancer series, Leah Phillips and thoracic medical oncologist Dr. Kyle Concannon (UC Health, University of Colorado) walk through what treatment actually looks like. They cover how first-line decisions are made for early versus advanced disease, where HER2-targeted therapies fit in, how doctors tell whether a treatment is working, what brain monitoring looks like, and what a progression conversation involves. Whether you're newly diagnosed or supporting someone through treatment, this episode will help you walk into your next oncology appointment more prepared. Thanks to Boehringer Ingelheim for supporting this series. YLCI retains full editorial control. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition.

  6. Jun 17

    What Is HER2 Lung Cancer? With Dr. Kyle Concannon | Ep. 1 of 3

    In lung cancer, HER2 can mean different things. In Part 1 of our HER2-driven lung cancer series, Leah Phillips sits down with thoracic medical oncologist Dr. Kyle Concannon (UC Health, University of Colorado) to cover the basics: what a HER2 alteration actually is, the difference between overexpression, amplification, and the exon 20 insertion mutation, why the type matters for treatment, and why next-generation sequencing at diagnosis is non-negotiable. This is Part 1 of 3. Parts 2 and 3 cover treatment and monitoring, then resistance and emerging research. About Dr. Kyle Concannon: Assistant Professor of Medicine-Medical Oncology at the University of Colorado and a thoracic medical oncologist at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital. Trained as a physician-scientist at MD Anderson, his lab studies why oncogene-driven lung cancers (EGFR, HER2, ALK, ROS1) stop responding to therapy and how to overcome that resistance. He also co-hosts The  @crackingcancer podcast https://som.cuanschutz.edu/Profiles/Faculty/Profile/40545 This series is proudly sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim. This is educational content. Not medical advice. Always talk to your own care team about your specific situation.

  7. Jun 7

    Lung Cancer: Treatment Decisions, Second Opinions & Side Effect | Mayya's Lung Cancer Story | Pt 3/3

    "We put out the fire. This is the last ember." In Part 3, Mayya Grinberg breaks down how she secured a second opinion with one of the world's leading ALK+ specialists before she needed one, how she navigated the radiation decision, and what no one prepared her for when the side effects hit eight weeks later. If you are navigating treatment decisions with a targetable mutation, this one is for you. Chapters: 0:00 — Introduction 0:18 — Getting a second opinion before you need one 1:00 — Finding Dr. Alice Shaw at Mass General 3:51 — What the second opinion confirmed 4:19 — Surgery vs. radiation: how she decided 7:21 — Radiation Side Effects 9:40 — Pulmonary PT and recovery ⚠️ Disclaimer This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition. 📢 Amplifying the Voices of Young-Onset Lung Cancer Lung cancer is often caught late in young adults because "they're too young." At the Young Lung Cancer Initiative (YLCI), we are changing that narrative. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing support, research, and advocacy for the young-onset community.

  8. Jun 7

    Lung Cancer at 39: "Is It Better If They Don't Remember Me?" | Mayya's Story | Pt 2/3

    I feel like I'm the tornado that happened to other people" A cancer diagnosis doesn't just change your health.. it changes everything. In Part 2 of 3, Mayya opens up about what it meant to lose her identity as the high-achieving professional, the mom who had it all together. She talks about having to stop breastfeeding because of cancer medication, her mother selling the house she'd lived in for 30 years to move in and help, and the thought no parent should ever be forced to sit with: is it better if my kids don't remember me? Chapters: 0:00 — Introduction 0:20 — The job opportunity of a lifetime, a new baby, and a diagnosis 1:44 — "I wasn't that corporate Barbie anymore" 3:24 — "I feel like I'm the tornado that happened to other people" 5:51 — The only time she felt human: breastfeeding her baby 6:41 — Having to stop breastfeeding because of cancer medication 9:35 — Family therapy and holding each other's hope ⚠️ Disclaimer This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition. 📢 Amplifying the Voices of Young-Onset Lung Cancer Lung cancer is often caught late in young adults because "they're too young." At the Young Lung Cancer Initiative (YLCI), we are changing that narrative. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing support, research, and advocacy for the young-onset community.

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The Young Lung Cancer Initiative Podcast brings together patient stories, expert insight, education, and real community resources for people impacted by lung cancer. You’ll hear honest conversations with patients living with this disease. You’ll hear researchers and oncologists break down evolving science. You’ll hear practical discussions about treatment decisions, side effects, insurance barriers, mental health, caregiving, and quality of life. We also share community based support resources designed specifically for young people and people without smoking history navigating lung cancer. This podcast centers the lived experience while staying grounded in evidence based medicine. If you are a patient, caregiver, advocate, or clinician who wants deeper understanding of what lung cancer actually looks like in real life, this is for you. New episodes released regularly.

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