Just Breathe: What It's Like to Have Lung Cancer

A Word from Wesley's Doc

My name is Mary C. Pinder-Schenck, MD. I am a thoracic oncologist at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa and I have the privilege of being Wesley Fay's physician. I want you to know what a difficult decision it was for her to talk about her cancer. As full of life as she is, she doesn't want cancer to define her. Many people don't know she's sick; she certainly doesn't look it or act it. But because her story is so crucial in changing perceptions of lung cancer, she set aside her need for privacy. The biggest hindrance to curing lung cancer is a lack of funding.

Let me be frank: I need your help, as does everyone else who is working to eradicate lung cancer in Wesley and hundreds of thousands of others. These nonprofits provide great information and do cutting-edge research -- and they could use your donations.

Want to Help Make a Difference with a Donation?

Lung Cancer Alliance advocates for research to reduce mortality and offers patient resources.

GRACE (cancergrace.org) is a volunteer group of top physicians who provide up-to-the-minute medical information to patients.

National Lung Cancer Partnership awards research grants, educates patients and doctors, and petitions for increased federal funding.

Moffitt Cancer Center is in Tampa, Florida, the cancer-research center where Wesley Fay is being treated. You can make a donation and designate it to go toward lung cancer research at moffitt.org.