Speakers Bureau

James Hiter

KRAS G12D

Harrisonburg, VA

World Lung Cancer Day 2023

“Running” towards lung cancer goals with patient advocate James Hiter

James Hiter is a lung cancer patient advocate who never thought he’d live to see his son get married. He attended their nuptials this past spring. All the while, he’s setting new personal records with his consecutive daily running streak, which has surpassed 1,000+ days – all with just one lung. It’s all thanks to lung cancer research.

In 2016, then 46-year-old James Hiter was a streaker. No, James does not spend his time naked, rather he is an avid runner. In fact, at the time of his diagnosis, he was on day 764 of a running streak – that’s 764 straight days of hitting the pavement. And then he came down with bronchitis.

His doctor ordered a chest x-ray, to check for pneumonia. James did not have pneumonia, but he did have two masses in the lowest lobe of his right lung. That day ended his streak and changed his life and perspective forever. James had surgery to remove one lobe of his right lung where it was discovered that lobe contained a lung cancer tumor. As a lifelong never-smoker, he had lung cancer. He had experienced none of the typical symptoms of lung cancer – a persistent cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, and others.

James has been a guest on several Hope With Answers: Living With Lung Cancer Podcast episodes.

An all-around nice guy, James has also created a non-profit, Streak For a Cure,  designed to raise awareness of the fact one only needs lungs to get lung cancer, as well as to raise money for research.

Read James’ story: Symptom Free Lung Cancer Diagnosis

Hope With Answers: Living With Lung Cancer Podcast