How Early Lung Cancer Screening Inspired a Lifelong Advocate 

Melinda’s story of championing change

Lilly Oncology

(Paid Content)

Published December 15, 2025

PHOTO CREDIT: Melinda McKnight

This article is sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company. Melinda McKnight is in a paid partnership with Lilly and has been compensated for her time.

With a 34-year career within the Arkansas and Cleveland County Departments of Human Services, Melinda, 68, has always had an innate desire to help others. Even in retirement, she found new ways to give back to her community. She quickly got involved with Cleveland County Cares, a non-profit organization that provides support to families in need, where she volunteers her time and serves as the organization’s Chief Financial Officer.

PHOTO CREDIT: Melinda McKnight

Honoring her Past and Protecting her Future

In the Fall of 2014, Melinda faced a heartbreaking loss when her mother was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away just a few months later. Though grief weighed heavily on her, Melinda drew strength from her mother’s memory, transforming her pain into purpose and becoming more aware of her own health risks.

Not long after her mother’s passing, Melinda learned that her employer was partnering with a cancer care provider to offer low-dose CT (LDCT) scans for eligible individuals. A LDCT scan is a quick, non-invasive imaging procedure that uses significantly less radiation than a standard CT scan, while still producing high-quality images.¹ The images are then processed by a computer to generate detailed views of the lungs, allowing for early detection of abnormalities.¹

After learning about screening and speaking with her physician, Melinda discovered she met the eligibility criteria for screening as a former tobacco user.

In August 2015, Melinda scheduled her first LDCT scan and was surprised by how quick and simple the procedure proved to be. The results revealed a 3mm nodule on her lung. For the next eight years, Melinda went for yearly scans to monitor for any changes, along with consultations with her doctor. Each scan gave her peace of mind.

In 2023, the nodule had grown to 7mm, after years of being dormant. Her doctor scheduled a follow up scan for three months later. By that time, the nodule reached 1.7cm and Melinda received a biopsy. Melinda realized just how crucial those annual screenings were, as they led to the earlier discovery of her lung cancer.²

Undergoing Treatment, Recovery, and Continued Advocacy

Melinda was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer.² The news was devastating, but with her best friend and husband by her side, she faced it head-on. Meeting with an oncologist and thoracic surgeon, Melinda was encouraged to learn about the available treatment options, giving her hope.

After undergoing a PET scan, she had a lobectomy that successfully removed the tumor. Today, Melinda continues regular monitoring with her physician, grateful for the advances in care that made her outcome possible.

Melinda’s experience with screening and an early-stage diagnosis has inspired her to advocate for LDCT screenings and their importance as the first step in detecting and diagnosing lung cancer. Lung cancer screening and early detection are critical to improving patient outcomes. Identifying and treating lung cancer at an early stage, before it has spread, increases a person’s chance of survival.³

“I think low-dose CTs can be just as important as mammograms and colonoscopies and that's one thing I tell friends, acquaintances, and perfect strangers,” Melinda says.

Championing Early Detection for All

Drawing on her own experience, Melinda now encourages all eligible individuals to undergo LDCT screening. Following her diagnosis, her oncologist connected her with the American Lung Association, which led to an opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. There, she met legislators to advocate for increased screening, research, and broader Medicaid coverage for those affected by lung cancer or at risk. The experience was transformative, igniting her passion to spread awareness after seeing the diverse communities impacted by lung cancer.

Now cancer-free and retired, Melinda treasures spending time with her husband, two children, and six grandchildren – cheering at football games, attending recitals, and celebrating family milestones together.

Through adversity, Melinda found both strength and a calling to advocate for early detection. “I don’t take anything for granted,” she adds. “It has made a different person out of me. I really think that it is my mission to tell people about low-dose CT scans and encourage them to get screened if they’re eligible.”

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the U.S., accounting for about one in five cancer diagnoses. It affects more people each year than colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined^.4

Click here to learn if you’re eligible for LDCT scans, or speak with your doctor

Sources:

1. American Lung Association. Saved by the Scan. https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/lung-cancer/saved-by-the-scan

2. Lung Cancer Foundation of America. Types of Lung Cancer. https://lcfamerica.org/about-lung-cancer/diagnosis/types/

3. National Cancer Institute. For Early-Stage Lung Cancer, Study Identifies Potential New Biomarker, Treatment Target. January 2019. https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2019/early-stage-lung-cancer-biomarker

4. Siegel RL, Miller KD, Wagle NS, Jemal A. Cancer statistics, 2023. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 2023;73(1):17-48. doi:10.3322/caac.21763

Unlock Access to AARP Members Edition

Join AARP to Continue

Already a Member? Login