Meet Janet Freeman-Daily, writer, science geek, and lung cancer patient/activist who was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer in May 2011. Despite two different combinations of chemotherapy and radiation, her cancer became metastatic.
Thanks to information obtained in online patient communities, she arranged to have her tumor tissue tested for newer molecular markers. Then she found a precision medicine clinical trial that has given her No Evidence of Disease (NED) since January 2013.
Applying a Science Background to Lung Cancer Research Advocacy
She applied her MIT and Caltech engineering degrees to a career in aerospace systems engineering and new business for two decades. Since 2013, she has employed her science background to translate the experience and science of lung cancer treatment and research for others.
From 2013 until 2021, Janet co-moderated the the monthly Lung Cancer Social Media (#LSCM) Chat on Twitter as @JFreemanDaily. She continues to blogs at grayconnections.net. In addition, she collaborates with researchers. Janet speaks at medical conferences with the goal of improving lung cancer patients’ outcomes and quality of life. She is an example of the Power of Patients as featured in this CancerToday article.
“The research is accelerating, and, while there might not be a treatment today, you could play a role in the next discovery. Find what brings you joy and make that the focus of your advocacy. I personally intend to keep advocating for lung cancer patients until I’m out of treatment options and energy.” – Janet Freeman-Daily
Janet has been a guest on Hope With Answers: Living With Lung Cancer Podcast. Participating in the Hope With Answers Video Series, Janet interviewed physicians to answer patient questions on a variety of topics.
Advocating for Clinical Trials During Covid
Janet put her science expertise to work quickly as the Coronavirus hit pandemic proportions. She was interviewed about the concerns of clinical trials during the pandemic in a Forbes article, Coronavirus and Cancer: 1-2 Punch. In addition, Janet appeared as a guest on the Hope With Answers Podcast, Coronavirus and Lung Cancer: What You Need to Know.
Read Janet’s story, Lung cancer advocacy: Janet Freeman-Daily’s Story
