Every year, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting brings together the dedicated minds in cancer research, treatment, advocacy, and patient care. With more than 40,000 oncology professionals from around the world gathering in Chicago this year, ASCO 2026 was once again a powerful reminder of how quickly the field of cancer care is evolving.
For A Breath of Hope Lung Foundation, attending ASCO is about being part of the conversations that shape the future of lung cancer care. It’s about strengthening relationships with researchers, clinicians, advocates, and industry partners. And it’s about ensuring that the patient perspective remains at the center of every breakthrough.
The Energy of ASCO
There is something truly special about ASCO. The convention halls buzz with excitement as researchers unveil years of work, physicians discuss new treatment approaches, and advocates connect over a shared mission: improving outcomes for people facing cancer.
Everywhere you turn, conversations are happening about the next breakthrough, the next clinical trial, and the next opportunity to bring better treatments to patients. The energy is contagious. You leave inspired—not only by the science, but by the people dedicated to changing the future of cancer care.
For our team, ASCO is also a chance to reconnect with longtime partners and friends while building relationships with new collaborators who share our commitment to improving survival and quality of life for lung cancer patients.
Lung Cancer Advances Continue to Move Forward
This year’s meeting highlighted the continued shift toward precision medicine—matching patients with treatments based on the unique biology of their cancer.
One of the most talked-about lung cancer presentations came from the LIBRETTO-432 trial, which demonstrated that adjuvant selpercatinib significantly reduced the risk of recurrence or progression in patients with early-stage RET-positive non-small cell lung cancer. Experts described the findings as immediately practice-changing and another example of how comprehensive biomarker testing is helping deliver more personalized treatment options.
Researchers also presented promising data for patients with EGFR exon 20 insertion-positive lung cancer, showing the potential for targeted therapies to move into earlier lines of treatment and offer alternatives to traditional chemotherapy.
Across multiple presentations, a common theme emerged: the future of lung cancer care is increasingly driven by biomarker testing, targeted therapies, immunotherapy combinations, and treatments designed specifically for individual tumor types. These advances are helping clinicians make more informed decisions and giving patients more options than ever before.
Why A Breath of Hope Attends ASCO
As a patient-focused organization, A Breath of Hope believes it is essential to stay connected to the latest scientific developments shaping lung cancer care.
The research presented at ASCO today often becomes the standard of care tomorrow. By attending these sessions, meeting with experts, and participating in discussions across the oncology community, we gain valuable insights that help inform our education programs, research investments, and patient support initiatives.
ASCO also provides an opportunity to elevate the voice of the lung cancer community. Every statistic presented at the conference represents real people and real families. Being present ensures we can continue advocating for the needs of patients while helping translate complex scientific advances into meaningful, understandable information for those we serve.
Looking Ahead
The conversations that begin at ASCO do not end when the conference closes. New collaborations are formed. Research ideas are refined. Clinical trials move forward. And advocates return home energized to continue their work.
This year’s meeting reinforced something we already know: progress in lung cancer is happening. While challenges remain, researchers, clinicians, advocates, and patients are working together to accelerate discoveries and improve outcomes.
We left ASCO 2026 inspired by the science, encouraged by the momentum, and grateful for the many individuals and organizations dedicated to changing the future of lung cancer.
Together, we are moving closer to a day when more people are diagnosed earlier, receive more effective treatments, and live longer, healthier lives.
