Cancer Survivor Meets Neighbor With Same Diagnosis: ‘That Changed My World’

November 11, 2021
Jamie Cesanek
Jamie Cesanek

Jamie Cesanek, Assistant Web Editor for CURE®, joined the team in March 2021. She graduated from Indiana University Bloomington, where she studied journalism and minored in sociology and French. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, running, or enjoying time with friends and family. Email her at jcesanek@curetoday.com.

Advocacy Groups | <b>American Lung Association's LUNG FORCE</b>

On this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, a young mother living with lung cancer shares the story of her cancer diagnosis and describes the once-in-a-lifetime coincidence of learning her neighbor has the same cancer type and mutation.

Ashley Stringer is a young mother of two who received a lung cancer diagnosis at age 34 despite no history of smoke or radon exposure. Ironically, she met a neighbor who was living through the exact same situation and could relate to her experiences.

In this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, Stringer tells the story of her cancer journey, offers advice for others and unpacks the stigma behind lung cancer that needs to change.

“That changed my world – to actually meet with someone and have someone walking alongside with me to share their journey and their struggles and their fears,” Stringer said. “And someone who absolutely 100% gets it, because there's no one else unless they've walked in your shoes – not your spouse, not your children, not your siblings – that can understand what you're feeling, like the emotions.”

For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.