When Pam Warren first heard her husband Jim’s diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer, her world stopped spinning. As a non-smoker who led a healthy lifestyle, Jim seemed an unlikely candidate for the disease that would ultimately claim his life. Their shared shock and confusion during his battle became the catalyst for Pam’s mission: to shed light on the often-overlooked risk of lung cancer in non-smokers. Now, armed with personal experience and a burning desire to make a difference, Pam has become a vocal advocate, challenging common misconceptions and pushing for increased awareness and research of lung cancer.
Before Jim’s diagnosis, Pam and Jim were a couple committed to the community and the outdoors.
Jim and Pam were happily married for 26 years. Their marriage was full of memories hiking, running, cycling, and skiing with their son Andrew in the great North Carolina outdoors.
Jim loved being around people; he led the Carolina Raptor Center as the Executive Director for over 10 years and held various leadership positions at the YMCA throughout his career. He was a dedicated advocate for environmental stewardship and conservation.
“Ever since he’s passed, everything always feels like it relates back to Jim,” Pam shares. “We met at the Y and now I’m working there, which is a full circle moment. Jim’s primary focus in life was to support other people, and he always did.”
For Jim, a persistent dry cough turned into something much more severe.
In the summer of 2021, Jim developed a dry cough that wouldn’t go away, despite various treatments. Finally, he was struggling so much to keep his breath that he went to his doctor and wouldn’t leave without a chest X-ray.
A shadow on his X-ray led to a bronchoscopy which confirmed cancer cells in his lungs. A PET scan later revealed that the cancer had spread outside his lungs to several surrounding areas.
“One of the things we learned from his oncologist in this process is that 80% of the people who have this type of cancer are diagnosed at stage 3 and 4, and by then there’s usually been significant spread,” Pam says. “Unfortunately, Jim was in the 80%.”
Given Jim’s status as a healthy 63-year-old and avid runner and biker, lung cancer came as a shock. His initial prognosis was good and his treatment included a recently approved targeted therapy that slowed the growth of cancer cells. His first scans showed great progress. However, due to life threatening side effects he had to stop this treatment and experienced a host of additional challenges. In 2022, Jim lost his battle to lung cancer.
“Jim’s experience with the targeted therapy demonstrates the importance of cancer research,” Pam emphasizes. “If he had been able to switch to a comparable treatment when his initial one was no longer an option, he may have survived for many years.”
Dr. Callahan at Tryon Medical Partners was a key support throughout their cancer journey.
Although Jim was not a patient at Tryon Medical Partners, Pam emphasizes the difference that her clinician, Dr. Callahan, made in their cancer journey. Jim was initially unable to schedule a consultation at his practice, so Pam reached out to Dr. Callahan, her trusted clinician of 20 years, and she suggested alternatives so that Jim could access a pulmonologist earlier.
“Although he wasn’t even her patient, Dr. Callahan was an advocate for Jim,” Pam notes. “She responded to my message that same day. It speaks to my relationship with her – no matter what, I know I can turn to her and she always has my back. Jim knew how much I trusted her so he did, too.”
Jim’s battle was not Pam’s first cancer rodeo. Pam is an endometrial cancer survivor and knows the importance of having a healthcare team that validates and listens to you. Dr. Callahan was an important part of Pam’s cancer journey, so she knew she could lean on her when Jim was first diagnosed.
“When I first got my cancer diagnosis, I initially felt like my oncologist minimized my concerns,” Pam says. “I needed advice, so I called Dr. Callahan and she was able to fit me in the same day. She helped me better understand my diagnosis and my oncologist’s perspective. She helped me feel heard both with my diagnosis and with Jim’s.”
From Pam and their community, Jim’s battle was an important reminder: anyone can have lung cancer, even non-smokers.
After Jim passed, Pam learned about one of her neighbors, Joy, who was also a non-smoker diagnosed with lung cancer at the young age of 38. Despite being in peak physical condition, Joy eventually lost her battle with lung cancer.
“Because of these lung cancer losses, I knew I had to learn more,” Pam shares. “Jim felt there was meaning in everything, and the meaning in his cancer journey was to help raise awareness about lung cancer. The best way to honor him is by telling his story.”
In Jim’s honor, Pam works every day to raise awareness around lung cancer and fund research efforts to make sure no one has to fight the battle Jim did.
Everyone assumes lung cancer is related to smoking, and Pam experienced how the stigma impacts everything from lung cancer research funding to patient support resources.
“Jim felt the stigma throughout his fight with lung cancer,” Pam emphasizes. “He often didn’t feel comfortable sharing the diagnosis because he worried people would assume he was a smoker and judge him, and he often felt he had to justify it by saying that he didn’t smoke.”
Pam’s goal is to educate the public on three key issues around lung cancer:
- Take symptoms seriously. The symptoms can look innocent at first, but especially if you notice a persistent cough or shortness of breath, it’s worth investigating.
- Get tested early. Even if you don’t smoke, know that you might be at risk, and advocate for yourself to get tested early and often.
- Accessing the support that exists. If you or a loved one is fighting a lung cancer battle, there is support for you to help address your physical and emotional needs.
“Although I was there to support Jim throughout his battle, I know he often put a brave face on,” Pam notes. “I wanted a place for him to speak his truth and support programs would have offered that space if we had known more about them.”
There are countless ways to support Pam’s work and raise awareness in honor of Jim.
The Lung Cancer Initiative of North Carolina is a local nonprofit with a goal to supplement research funding for lung cancer and provide support to survivors and their families. You can join in their mission, alongside Pam, by getting involved or even participating in their annual LUNGe Forward 5K held in Charlotte May 17, 2025, at McAlpine Park.
“The planning committee for the LUNGe Forward 5K is an inspiring community,” Pam says. “To me, it’s been like finding a family of individuals who have all been touched by lung cancer. If even one person has a better quality of life or lives an additional month because of the information we work together to share, then we continue Jim’s legacy of service to others. It’s what Jim would’ve wanted.”
For a complete list of the Lung Cancer Initiative’s 2024 activities during Lung Cancer Awareness Month, click here.
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