Kildare woman fights for lung cancer ribbon in Ireland
Samantha Vaughan is tirelessly advocating for lung cancer awareness
Kildare woman and lung cancer survivor, Samantha Vaughan, is Ireland’s biggest advocate for lung cancer awareness.
She is currently working hard to promote awareness for the cancer that is taking most lives in the country.
According to the Marie Keating Foundation, 2,576 Irish people every year will receive the devastating news of a lung cancer diagnosis, with a further 1,950 deaths from lung cancer in Ireland per year.
Samantha underwent a very serious lung surgery in 2023, removing half of her right lung where the cancer had spread. Afterwards she was left with no aftercare or rehabilitation plans, having to seek further treatment for her mental and physical health on her own.
“I’m still waiting for the last year on rehabilitation. When I had my operation it was kind of like, your operation is over. Here's your medication. Good luck. Goodbye. Go home. And that was it. There's absolutely nothing for anyone that has lung cancer,” she said.
Since then, Samantha has been going down every avenue possible to get the white ribbon for lung cancer easily accessible in Ireland, to spread the message that “anyone with lungs can get lung cancer".
During her journey, she came into contact with a woman from the White Ribbon Project, an American group that advocates for lung cancer awareness. The group was kind enough to send Samantha her own white ribbon to help spread the message in Ireland. Since then, Samantha has been tirelessly looking to cancer charities and organisations, Irish influencers, or anyone that might be willing to help spread awareness and bring the white ribbon for lung cancer to Ireland:
“Where can we push this? I know I'm only a little woman in the middle of Ireland here and nobody's going to really listen to me, but someone might pick up on it,” she said.
Despite her efforts, she has had no luck with finding a sponsor for her mission, but remains determined to introduce the white ribbon to Ireland.
“There's people that can talk about it. Something needs to be done and it's not going to happen overnight and I get that.#
“I'm 50 this year. If I knew by October when I turn 50 that somebody is getting behind it, I'd be like that's the best birthday present. To change other people's lives.”
Samantha primarily uses her Instagram account @lungcancerandsamantha to share her story and spread lung cancer awareness, sharing resources and support for others struggling with their diagnosis.
