Side Effects & Lung Cancer: What Patients Wish Doctors Knew

Side effects can be painful, frustrating, and deeply misunderstood—especially when they’re invisible. In this episode, host Annabelle Gurwitch and advocate Colette Smith share candid stories about surgery recovery, TKI toxicity, anxiety, and the everyday challenges patients rarely talk about.

Learn how to navigate tough conversations with doctors, what to do when side effects interrupt your life, and why community support is essential. Whether you're newly diagnosed, in long-term survivorship, or supporting someone you love, this episode offers practical insight, validation, and hope.

Guests:

Annabelle Gurwitch – Host, Author, and Patient Advocate Annabelle brings compassion and candor to conversations about lung cancer, creating space for honest discussions about challenges patients face—from medical debt to emotional strain.

Visit her website: annabellegurwitch.com | Follow her on Facebook

Colette Smith – Colette Smith is a dynamic lung cancer survivor, patient advocate, and community health champion who transformed her 2015 Stage 1A adenocarcinoma diagnosis into a powerful platform for change. As a never-smoker diagnosed through persistent self-advocacy, Colette's mission is to emphasize the importance of patient empowerment and early detection.

Show Notes - https://lcfamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/AMA-Side-Effects-Show-Notes.pdf

Transcript - https://lcfamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/AMA-Side-Effects-Transcript.pdf

Watch Video- https://youtu.be/n1_IQF3ho7Y