LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and according to the American Lung Association, Kentucky leads the country in the number of cases. A Lexington woman, and lung cancer survivor herself, is now doing her part to change that.
Just one look at Lindi Campbell and you'd never guess that less than two years ago she was in the fight of her life.
"I've always loved cardio. I'm an A-type personality, so I've always loved cardio, " Campbell said.
The mom of two was healthy, active and never smoked, but she was diagnosed with lung cancer.
"That's the news I woke up to... we took two lobes of your right lung, " Campbell explained.
Now, one-third of her lung capacity is gone, she has a formidable scar on her right shoulder, and she is more determined than ever.
"I really felt this responsibility to the disease, " Campbell said. "It was really up to me to say I'm the face of lung cancer, too, and we all matter."
Like many people, Campbell said she always looked at lung cancer as a smoker's disease, now she is working to break that stigma. Campbell is out to educate people about other risk factors like second-hand smoke and radon exposure. Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer, and according to data compiled by World Population Review, Kentucky ranks among the states with the highest levels of it.
"We're really considered the Triple Crown state for lung cancer because of the high levels of smoking, second-hand smoke and radon."
Campbell is pushing for three major things: awareness, prevention and early detection. On November 1st, she held her first ever event as part of her non-profit Breath of Hope Kentucky. Her mission is to cultivate change and raise money, dedicated specifically for Kentucky, and she is doing so one conversation at a time.
"If Kentucky ranks number one then Kentuckians need to do something about it, " Campbell said.
For more information on Breath of Hope Kentucky: http://bohky.org/
