From Diagnosis to Advocacy: Bonnie Addario's Work on Lung Cancer

Bonnie J. Addario was a business executive who became a prominent lung cancer advocate. She was diagnosed with stage IIIB lung cancer in 2004 and she fought many treatments while building patient programs. Since then she has worked to reduce stigma and to expand research funding.

In 2006 she founded the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation and in 2008 she started the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute to support clinical research. Although lung cancer has often been underfunded, her groups have supported trials and early detection work. In 2019 the foundation merged with the Lung Cancer Alliance to create GO2 for Lung Cancer, and she served as co-founder and board chair. Her efforts have connected patients with doctors and researchers, and have encouraged genetic testing and new trials.

Her legacy will be measured by new collaborations and by patients who received care they otherwise might not have. Bonnie died on August 25, 2025 at age 77 in San Carlos, California. Therefore many organizations have honored her work and continue projects she helped start. Her initiatives have also trained clinicians and promoted patient education.