Hope Forward
Hope Forward, a podcast by Rexanna’s Foundation, features real patient stories, expert medical conversations, educational insights, and research updates — bringing together patients, physicians, and advocates united in the fight against lung cancer. Each episode explores real experiences, emerging research, and the work happening every day to shape the future of care.
Join us as we learn, connect, and take action to move Hope Forward.
Episodes
10 episodes
She Was Told to Get Her Affairs in Order — Then She Started a Movement
#010 In this episode of the Hope Forward Podcast, host Lisa Spain sits down with Heidi Onda, founder of the White Ribbon Project, to talk about her stage 3A terminal lung cancer diagnosis — and how she turned fear, stigma, and a simple white ri...
10 Most Important Things Every Cancer Patient Should Know
#009 Lisa Spain shares the 10 most important things every cancer patient should know — lessons shaped by 20 years of walking alongside patients and families since losing her friend Rexanna to lung cancer. From asking for a second opinion to acc...
Dr. Jay Zhang on AI, Genomics & Prevention in Lung Cancer
#008 Dr. Jay Zhang, a thoracic oncologist and a professor of genomic medicine, joins Lisa Spain to talk about genomics, AI, and the future of lung cancer prevention.Dr. Zhang explains how tumor genetics guide treatment decisions, shares...
What Do You Say When Someone You Love Has Cancer?
#007 A cancer diagnosis affects more than the patient—it impacts everyone who loves them. But when someone you care about has cancer, what do you say? What do you do? And how can you truly help?In this episode of the Hope Forward Podcas...
I Never Thought I Could Get Lung Cancer | Samantha's Story
#006 Samantha did everything right -- regular screenings, healthy lifestyle, and a non-smoker. Then she was diagnosed with lung cancer. In this conversation, Samantha opens up about the misconceptions surrounding lung cancer, why biomar...
Dr. Don Gibbons on Lung Cancer Breakthroughs: KRAS, Immunotherapy, and Patient Advocacy
#005 In this episode of the Hope Forward Podcast, Lisa Spain sits down with Dr. Don Gibbons to discuss the latest breakthroughs in lung cancer research, including KRAS-targeted therapies, immunotherapy, brain metastases, and the critical role o...
You Have Cancer—Now What? Finding Your Voice After Diagnosis
#004 A cancer diagnosis can leave patients and caregivers feeling overwhelmed, unheard, and unsure of what comes next. In this episode of Hope Forward, Lisa Spain shares practical ways to advocate for yourself, ask better questions, stay organi...
More Than a Golf Tournament: How We Raised $83,000 for Lung Cancer Research
#003 In this episode, Lisa Spain and Lindsey Vaughn recap the first ever Carr & Jacobi Classic golf tournament—sharing key moments, the impact behind the event, and how it raised over $83,000 for lung cancer research. A powerful look at com...
The Truth About Cancer Survival Rates (It’s Not What You Think)
#002 Cancer death rates are declining—and that’s not by accident.In this episode of Hope Forward, Lisa Spain, Executive Director of Rexanna’s Foundation, breaks down the truth about cancer survival rates—and why the data is more hopeful...