Bonnie J. Addario, co-founder and chair of the largest lung cancer patient advocacy organization in the nation, the GO2 Foundation, is a lung cancer survivor herself. But her book, The Living Room: A Lung Cancer Community of Courage (Post Hill Press) really isn’t about her own experiences; rather, it tells the stories of 20 other men and women battling advanced lung cancer.
Addario graciously invited us into her living room (metaphorically, because unfortunately, we weren’t quite able to have an in-person discussion) to share some additional thoughts about her book, mission and perspective on this devastating disease. Though cancer is a terrifying word, Addario is handing out hope with open arms. For a longer visit to Bonnie’s community, read BookTrib’s review of The Living Room.
Q: It’s been 17 years since your lung cancer diagnosis. Why write the book now? Was it therapeutic? Emotional? Do you feel it provides a voice to patients, families and caregivers who may have lost hope?
A: I just decided that it was time to stop the nonsense. Lung cancer is the most lethal cancer and we need to save the lives of lung cancer patients. Also, lung cancer is leading the way in genomic discovery; lead and they will follow.
Q: Is there anything you didn’t include in the book that you’d like to tell us about?
A: I believe cancer is cancer, and regardless of the organ the cancer is in, it is driven by our individual genomic profile. We need to know what genomics are driving all cancers. Cancer is very personal to all, so we also need to find out what is driving each person’s cancer. It’s good that we’re entering the age of personalized medicine; every patient is unique and one size does not fit all. Genomics are key.
Q: As a lung cancer patient and advocate, what are some common misconceptions you’ve run across when it comes to lung cancer?
A: That only people who smoke get it. Not true. That said, smoking is bad for all and it is the trigger of 31 diseases and cancers according to the New England Journal of Medicine.
Q: What is the focus of your work with lung cancer? What do you hope to achieve?
A: Ten years ago, this goal would be dismissed as impossible. Today, it’s achievable. Over the past two years, there have been more breakthroughs in early detection and personalized medicine than over the past four decades. The implications of this are staggering for patients and their families. Finding and treating early, curable disease — rather than the current 80 percent found late stage — is a gamechanger. The proven benefit of lung cancer screening when fully implemented for the millions of people at risk could save as many as 70,000 lives a year and is more cost-effective than other established screening exams such as mammograms.
Additionally, we are on a trajectory to see even more profound lifesaving changes in the years ahead with the accelerated approval of new drugs and therapies and the groundbreaking research focused on finding earlier precancerous conditions. Accelerating change across the entire continuum of care — from risk assessment and early diagnosis to treatment research and long-term survivorship — is our roadmap for success. Because the majority of healthcare is delivered at the community level, we need to act locally and inform globally to effectively bring the full potential of recent advances to patients.
Q: What’s the one message you’d like readers to walk away with after reading your book?
A: Early detection can truly save lives. Don’t be afraid of finding this disease early. There are more new drugs for lung cancer in the last five years than in the last five decades; lung cancer is now finally getting its due.
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About Bonnie J. Addario:
Bonnie J. Addario is Co-Founder, Board Chair and patient advocate of GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer, as well as an educator. She has empowered patients and given them a voice since receiving a stage 3B lung cancer diagnosis almost two decades ago. Recognizing the need for education, empowerment, advocacy, and research to help patients and families, Ms. Addario and her family founded the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF) in 2006. In 2019, ALCF and the Lung Cancer Alliance merged, forming GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer. Ms. Addario acts as an adviser to industry leaders, clinicians, and policymakers and is a member of the Personalized Medicine Coalition board. In 2020, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from CURE Magazine.
