Guests/Speakers
Annabelle Gurwitch – Host, Author, and Patient Advocate
Annabelle brings compassion and candor to conversations about lung cancer, creating space for honest discussions about challenges patients face—from medical debt to emotional strain.
Visit her website: annabellegurwitch.com | Follow her on Facebook
Colette Smith is a dynamic lung cancer survivor, patient advocate, and community health champion who transformed her 2015 Stage 1A adenocarcinoma diagnosis into a powerful platform for change. As a never-smoker diagnosed through persistent self-advocacy, Colette’s mission is to emphasize the importance of patient empowerment and early detection.
The Hidden Cost of Living With Lung Cancer
A lung cancer diagnosis can impact far more than health. It can upend finances, careers, and family stability. In this episode of Ask Me Anything: Living With Lung Cancer, host Annabelle Gurwitch sits down with advocate Colette Smith to unpack the financial side of treatment and how patients can protect themselves through knowledge and action.
Colette was diagnosed with Stage 1A lung cancer and underwent a lobectomy that left her facing a $75,000 medical bill after an insurance change. With her background in hospital administration, she refused to accept it at face value and successfully appealed. Her experience revealed a critical truth: understanding the system is a patient’s strongest defense.
Annabelle and Colette explore how medical costs, job loss, and emotional strain intertwine. Annabelle shares her own struggles after losing her car to repossession during treatment, while Colette recounts being terminated from her job despite legal protections. She later proved discrimination and regained her footing, showing others that persistence and documentation matter.
Managing Your Cancer Journey
Their message is simple: speak up early, stay organized, and seek support. Many hospitals offer patient navigators or financial counselors who can help decode insurance language and connect patients with assistance programs. National resources like Triage Cancer, Patient Advocate Foundation, and CancerCare provide free tools and counseling to help patients fight back against financial strain.
As more people live longer with lung cancer, financial wellness has become an essential part of survivorship. “Your voice matters,” Colette says. “Ask questions, keep records, and never forget the sound of your own advocacy.”
