Joi Kiley is a powerful voice for lung cancer awareness and early detection advocacy, bringing her personal triumph over Small Cell Lung Cancer to audiences nationwide. In 2022, at age 53, Joi was diagnosed with Small Cell Lung Cancer—a typically aggressive form with poor survival rates—but her story defied the odds. Thanks to a proactive low-dose CT scan prompted by her brother’s death from lung disease, Joi’s cancer was caught within 6-8 weeks of development. This early detection made all the difference: after completing four cycles of chemotherapy and 15 days of radiation, Joi achieved a complete response and has been NED (no evidence of disease) for three years. Her oncologist confirmed that without early screening, her outcome would have been drastically different.
As a media spokesperson, Joi addresses the critical importance of lung cancer screening with authenticity and hope. She openly discusses the emotional challenges many patients face, including the guilt and shame often associated with smoking-related cancers, and how she initially navigated her journey in isolation before finding strength through community support. Her advocacy extends beyond personal storytelling—Joi successfully fought insurance denials to ensure her identical twin sister received the same life-saving screening that detected her own cancer. This real-world experience with healthcare navigation and insurance advocacy makes her a compelling voice for systemic change in lung cancer screening access.
Joi’s message resonates across diverse audiences because early detection saves lives, and her story proves that even the most challenging lung cancer diagnoses can have hopeful outcomes when caught early. Available for interviews, panel discussions, and speaking engagements, Joi brings both the urgency of lung cancer awareness and the hope of survival to every conversation, making her an invaluable advocate for LCFA’s mission to improve lung cancer outcomes through research, education, and early intervention.
