After a Stage 4 Lung Cancer Diagnosis at 36, Heather Prather Finds Joy in Community

When Heather Prather was diagnosed with stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer at just 36 years old, her mind immediately began racing.

“My mind was going 100 miles a minute,” Prather recalled. “I had trouble processing the next words that came out of my oncologist’s mouth because I was still trying to process and comprehend the news that I was now living with stage 4 lung cancer.”

Diagnosed in June 2020, Prather was in the midst of building her career as a physical therapist and thinking about starting a family. Suddenly, she was faced with questions about what her future would look like.

A Stage 4 Lung Cancer Diagnosis Changes Everything

Prather was also extremely sick when she was diagnosed. Walking just 20 feet could cause her oxygen saturation to drop into the 70s.

“I was in the prime of my life,” she said. “The thoughts were running through my mind of now what? How am I going to move forward?”

One of her biggest concerns was whether she would even be able to return to work and continue helping patients improve their quality of life when she was struggling to get around herself.

As she navigated treatment and life with lung cancer, Prather also began looking for other people who understood what she was experiencing.

Finding a Lung Cancer Community in LiveLung

Prather discovered LiveLung through another person living with lung cancer who shared her ALK-positive mutation. After seeing her fellow patient participate in advocacy events, Prather reached out to learn more.

“I knew that I had to be a part of it,” she said.

For Prather, LiveLung quickly became more than an advocacy organization. It became a community where she could connect with people who understood the realities of living with lung cancer.

“LiveLung is definitely a family,” Prather said. “There’s nothing like coming into a room, being with people who know exactly what it’s like to walk in your shoes.”

Finding Joy Despite the Challenges

When asked to describe her experience at LiveLung in one word, Prather chose “joy.”

Although the group shares difficult moments and tears, Prather said there is something special about seeing familiar faces and strengthening relationships in person.

“Just being able to see familiar faces that I’ve been able to grow a relationship with over the last year or two, and connect with each other in person is so special,” she said.

Prather also values staying informed about advances in lung cancer research. As someone living with an ALK-positive lung cancer, she knows how important it is to understand what is happening in the field and continue advocating for new treatments and research.

She also follows CURE’s coverage to keep up with developments in different cancer subtypes.

“It’s really important for me because, as I know, lung cancer is very smart, and it finds a way to mutate around and come back to us,” she said.

Heather’s Message to Others Living With Lung Cancer

For anyone facing a lung cancer diagnosis, Prather wants them to know one thing: They do not have to go through it alone.

“I want you to know if you’ve been diagnosed with lung cancer that you are not alone,” she said.

She encourages people to find others who understand what they are going through, whether that means joining a support group, talking with friends or neighbors, connecting with a local cancer center or finding a community online.

“There’s nothing better than having a support group that knows how it feels to walk in your shoes and get the support that you need to get through this difficult journey.”

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