Anusha MD

I am deeply honored to receive the 2026 @AACR Distinguished Patient Advocacy and Engagement Award. I am alive, literally, because of research and those who have devoted their lives to advancing it. But, this recognition is not mine alone. It reflects the work of so many advocates who push for better research, better care, and a deeper understanding of what it means to live with cancer. And it is also only possible by our extraordinary community of scientists, clinicians, organizations, and companies willing to listen, value patient input and understand that lived experience is a form of expertise. Advocacy helped me find my voice and taught me how to transform suffering into purpose. I would not be the advocate I am today without the founders of LUNGevity filling a badly needed gap, and without the many patients, advocates, clinicians, scientists, nurses, organizations, and companies I’ve had the privilege to work alongside. Over the years, I’ve been honored to collaborate with people from all over the world who are committed to making research more relevant, equitable, and humane. I continue to learn from all of them and remain grateful to be a part of the greater cancer community. Thank you to AACR for this incredibly meaningful honor. There is still much more work to do, but today and this weekend, I celebrate how far this community has come and the progress we have made. #AACR26 #CancerResearch #PatientResearchAdvocate #PatientAdvocacy #ResearchMatters #LCSM #LungCancer @EGFRResisters

If you read one thing this week, read today's @nytimes piece by @SimarSBajaj bit.ly/49ABdvd It names a truth people with #lungcancer live with every single day. This well-written article makes it clear that stigma doesn't just hurt people emotionally; it is a life or death barrier. People delay diagnosis, care, and support because they're afraid of being judged. Lung cancer is not a morality story. And nicotine addiction isn't a bad habit or personal failure - It's a DISEASE and should be treated that way, with compassion and evidence-based care, not judgment. Thank you, @JimPantelas, for always being so open and honest. And thank you, @drCarterBawam, @hawkeyestudts, @NarjustFlorezMD, and others, for continuing to remind people of the most basic truth: no one 'earns' this disease and no one 'deserves' it! Please help change the conversation and shift the narrative from shame and blame to hope and humanity. #KilltheStigma #LCSM #WordsMatter