From the President’s Desk
Dr. Rosalyn Juergens
Reflections, insights, and updates.
A Season of Awareness, Action, & Hope
As the leaves turn and fall settles in, we are reminded of cycles of change — and of renewal. For those living with lung cancer and their families, this season is also a time of reflection, connection, and action.
November marks Lung Cancer Awareness Month — a time to shine a national spotlight on the most fatal cancer in Canada, to honour those we have lost, to walk alongside those living with the disease, and to recommit ourselves to building a future where equity, access, and innovation are not privileges, but guarantees.
Progress and Possibility
Lung cancer is no longer the hopeless diagnosis it once was. Advances in precision medicine, biomarker testing, immunotherapy, and targeted treatments are transforming what is possible. More Canadians are living longer, fuller lives with lung cancer than ever before. These are breakthroughs worth celebrating.
But let us be clear: progress has not reached everyone. Too many Canadians are still diagnosed late. Too many face delays that cost them precious time. Too many never get access to biomarker testing or clinical trials that could extend and improve their lives. Behind every statistic is a family disrupted, a future cut short, a community left grieving.
This is why our work cannot wait.
Stories and Solutions That Drive Change
At Lung Cancer Canada, we know that change starts with stories — and stories must lead to solutions.
This November, our Faces of Lung Cancer Report will once again amplify the voices of clinicians and those with lived experience. Their stories are more than narratives — they are calls to action. They expose care gaps, challenge stigma, and inspire decision-makers to act.
Hand in hand with these stories, we are advancing system-level solutions through our 2025 Policy Forum Series. These national conversations bring together those with lived experience, clinicians, policymakers, and partners to confront urgent issues such as:
- Timely access to biomarker testing
- Precision medicine and equitable treatment access
- Accelerating innovation into patient care
Together, the report and the forums create a powerful cycle: lived experiences that humanize the challenges, and policy discussions that chart the path forward.
A Community in Action
As we move into Awareness Month, I am profoundly inspired by the strength of this community:
- Those with lived experience, sharing their journeys with extraordinary courage.
- Clinicians and researchers, pushing the boundaries of science and care.
- Volunteers and advocates, raising their voices and demanding change.
- Supporters and partners, helping to fuel the momentum that saves lives.
One of the most meaningful moments of the month will be our Evening of Hope on November 23, 2025. This annual gathering is more than a fundraiser. It is a night of remembrance, resilience, and resolve. Together, we will honour those we’ve lost, lift up those still fighting, and raise vital funds to fuel the advocacy, research, and support that patients and families urgently need.
It is a night that reminds us why we do this work — and what we can achieve, together.
Looking Ahead with Determination
Awareness Month is about action today — but also about preparing for tomorrow. As we look beyond November, Lung Cancer Canada is laying the groundwork for its next strategic plan. Built on the voices of those with lived experience, clinicians, and partners, it will chart our path forward and ensure we are ready to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead.
This fall, I invite you to stand with us:
- Read and share the upcoming Faces of Lung Cancer Report.
- Engage with our Policy Forum Series, helping to shape solutions at the national level.
- Be part of the Evening of Hope on November 23rd — a night that turns compassion into impact.
- Amplify the message that anyone with lungs can get lung cancer — and that everyone deserves access to earlier diagnosis, better treatments, and hope for tomorrow.
Every action matters. Every voice makes us stronger. Together, we are rewriting the story of lung cancer in Canada.
With deep gratitude and unshakable determination,
Dr. Rosalyn Juergens
President, Lung Cancer Canada