The Uniquely Challenging Disease of Lung Cancer: A Conversation with Haley Fisher on Early Detection, Advocacy, and Navigating Care

Lung cancer remains one of the most challenging diseases to diagnose and treat, particularly for non-smokers who may not realize they are at risk. In this deeply personal interview, SEAM founder Amy Cohen Epstein speaks with Haley Fisher, who was diagnosed with lung cancer despite living a healthy, active lifestyle. Haley shares her journey, from the unexpected discovery of her tumor to the importance of early detection, second opinions, and advocating for oneself in the medical system. Together, Amy and Haley discuss the stigma surrounding lung cancer, the need for more research on non-smoking patients, and why being an informed patient can make all the difference. Their conversation highlights how proactive healthcare—alongside expert medical guidance—can help patients make the best decisions for their unique circumstances.

Amy Cohen Epstein:
All right, let’s do this. Haley, I’m so excited to talk to you. How are you doing? I mean, I’m sad we’re doing this remotely, but sometimes that’s just the only way to get it done.

Haley Fisher:
It saves time in the car, so it’s good.

Amy:
I guess so! But I’m really looking forward to this. I’ve met you and talked to you before, but obviously never had a conversation like we’re going to have today. Let’s just start from the beginning—tell us your story.

Haley:
Yeah, and I’ll give you a little background. The crazy thing is, a couple of years before I was diagnosed, my father—who sadly passed away this year—was also diagnosed with lung cancer. But he was a two-pack-a-day smoker and quit when he was about 65. His diagnosis was devastating for our family.

For me, it was completely unexpected. It was during the height of COVID, and actually, the same morning I got my second vaccine, I found out I had cancer. I went from feeling really excited to having my whole world turned upside down in a matter of hours. I was very healthy—conscious about my diet, a moderate drinker, exercising every day. I had never been a smoker. As a former opera singer, I was always hyper-aware of my lungs and fitness.

That week, we were also in the middle of moving… [Editor’s Note: Edited for clarity and brevity].

Amy:
Which is one of the hardest, most stressful things you can do!

Haley:
It really is. And especially because we had just moved from Connecticut a year and a half before. So, I was at our new house organizing things when I got a call from my doctor. He asked if I could come in that afternoon. I told him, “No, I can’t, what’s going on?” And he said, “We found something on your lung.”

I had gone to see him because I was experiencing chest tightness during COVID, and I thought it was anxiety or panic attacks. Since I have a family history of heart disease, my doctor wanted to do a calcium score test—a routine scan that looks for plaque buildup in the arteries. But instead, they found a mass on my lung… [Editor’s Note: Clarified diagnostic process].

Everything moved both in slow motion and at lightning speed. Within hours, I was sent to see a surgeon, put through another scan, and told that, yes, this was cancer. Within five days, I was scheduled for surgery to remove half of my left lung. It was overwhelming. My mind was racing—my children, my family—how could this be happening?

Amy:
I can’t even imagine. And I know you’ve said that having an advocate in the room with you was critical.

Haley:
Absolutely. The best advice I can give anyone is to have an advocate with you at all times. My husband was my biggest advocate, and I truly believe that without him, my experience would have been very different. He fought for me—he pushed for answers, asked the hard questions, and made sure we got a second opinion.

Amy:
That’s so important, especially when everything is happening so fast.

Haley:
Right, and during COVID, getting a second opinion within five days was no small feat. But we did, and that’s when I realized that medicine is not an exact science. Every doctor has a different approach. One doctor suggested chemo and radiation before surgery to shrink the tumor, while another recommended immediate surgery. There were pros and cons to each approach, but given my health, we opted for an aggressive surgery without pre-treatment… [Editor’s Note: Summarized for readability].

Amy:
You bring up such an important point. Every patient is different. Cancer treatment should never be one-size-fits-all.

Haley:
Exactly. The treatment plan for a 50-year-old active woman shouldn’t necessarily be the same as that for a 70-year-old lifelong smoker. Yet, lung cancer treatment still largely follows outdated protocols that don’t always account for the differences in patients.

Also, lung cancer in non-smokers—particularly women—is on the rise, and we’re not doing enough research into why. There’s not enough focus on early detection, pre-screening, or even patient education.

Amy:
That’s frustrating. Preventive care is so important, but it’s often not prioritized.

Haley:
Yes. I was lucky—my cancer was caught early because of a heart screening. Most people don’t get diagnosed until it’s much later, when symptoms finally appear. And by then, surgery might not be an option.

Amy:
So how do we change that?

Haley:
First, we need more awareness about the importance of low-dose CT scans. I’m working on an initiative with a cardiologist to encourage baseline lung screenings for women at 50—just like we do with mammograms and colonoscopies. These scans are quick, non-invasive, and could save lives… [Editor’s Note: Edited for clarity and emphasis].

Amy:
That makes so much sense. Prevention isn’t just about lifestyle—it’s also about knowing what tests are available and advocating for them.

Haley:
Exactly. And we also need to shift the stigma around lung cancer. Many people assume it’s only caused by smoking, but that’s not true. Every time I tell someone I had lung cancer, I feel like I have to immediately say, “I was never a smoker.” But no one should feel the need to justify their diagnosis. Cancer is never a person’s fault… [Editor’s Note: Clarified message about stigma].

Amy:
That’s such an important perspective. Thank you for sharing your journey, Haley. You’re not just raising awareness for lung cancer—you’re showing people how to take charge of their health and ask the right questions.

Haley:
Thank you, Amy. If I can help even one person by sharing my story, it’s worth it.

Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.