Laurie Smith’s Long Road to a Lung Cancer Diagnosis—and a New Lease on Life

"Having radiation instead of surgery allowed me to continue care for my husband." 

A Soldier’s Strength

Laurie Smith proudly served 20 years in the U.S. Army. But her service came with sacrifice. During her second deployment in Iraq, she was medically evacuated—a pivotal moment that would later connect to a health battle she never expected.

A Mysterious Spot

In 2021, Laurie underwent a routine lung cancer screening. As a former smoker, it was precautionary. A spot was found on her lung, but her  civilian pulmonologist wasn’t able to identify the cause. It was too deep for a biopsy, so she was placed on a watch-and-wait plan—CT scans every three months, but no answers.

The lesion echoed one found during her military service. Some suspected valley fever, but that too remained unresolved.

A Delayed Diagnosis

It wasn’t until December 2023, over two years later, that Laurie got a clearer picture—this time through the VA. She sought care at Durham VA Medical Center, a facility known for its cancer expertise.

A specialist reviewed her history, considered the possibility of valley fever, and ultimately ordered a biopsy.

The result: lung cancer—adenocarcinoma.

A Turning Point Through VA Research

As her VA care team developed a treatment plan, Laurie was invited to provide a saliva sample as part of a research study exploring new, non-invasive ways to detect cancer.

She was also offered a second, entirely separate opportunity: to participate in the VALOR Study—a groundbreaking VA research initiative offering personalized, precision-guided treatment options for Veterans with cancer.

Choosing the Right Care

Laurie faced a difficult decision. As a full-time caregiver for her husband, a fellow disabled Veteran, she had to consider both her health and her responsibilities at home.

With her VA team, she opted for a cutting-edge, non-surgical radiation therapy that allowed for minimal downtime. It was a personalized approach—tailored to her needs and her life—supported by regular pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and CT scans to monitor her progress.

VA research didn’t just give Laurie options—it gave her control over her care and her future.

Chris Blomgren’s Journey from Crisis to Control

“The SGB has allowed me to enjoy a lot more interest in both my homestead and spending time with both boys, which was a struggle beforehand.”

Struggling with PTSD

Discovering the Stellate Ganglion Block Study

Seeing the Results

Why Veterans Need VA Research

This wasn’t just a treatment—it was part of a formal VA research study exploring innovative PTSD interventions. Chris believes VA should make it easier for veterans to connect with life-changing research.

Veterans shouldn't have to chase down life-changing research--research should find them.