WTOP’s Neal Augenstein Marks Three Years Cancer-Free, highlights Advances โคin Lung Cancer Treatment
WASHINGTON – WTOP News reporterโค Neal Augenstein is celebrating three years since being declared cancer-free following a Stage 4 lungโ cancerโค diagnosis, and is sharing his journey alongside advancements in detection and treatment offering renewed โhope to patients. Augenstein’s storyโ comes as a new report โfrom โtheโข american โคLung Association revealsโข a importantโ rise in lung cancer survival rates, coupled with the growing role of artificial intelligence in earlier diagnosis.
Lung โฃcancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in the United โคStates, but the outlook is improving. The American Lung Association’s 2025 State ofโ Lung Cancer report shows the five-year survival rate has risen to 29.7%, aโ 26% advancement over the past five years. This progress is fueled by ongoing research, including the increasing use of artificial intelligence to detectโค the disease sooner.
Augenstein, who publicly shared his diagnosis in 2022, credits advancements in treatment and access โto clinical trials for his positive outcome. He regularly discusses potential trials with his โฃthoracic oncologist, Amin Benyounes, co-leader at theโค Inova Schar Cancer Institute’s Phase One Program. The D.C. region offers a considerable number of clinical trials in Virginia, Maryland, and the District, providingโ patients with access to cutting-edge options.
“Will this make me feel worse,willโ it makeโค me โfeel sick,coudl it hurt more than itโฃ would โhelp? Will โขmy kids or โคmy partner have to bear the burden of me feeling sick?” Benyounes says are common concerns voicedโ by patients considering clinical trial enrollment.
However,with trials offering the potential for longer survival with fewer โคside effects,patients also grappleโข with theโค possibility of โdisappointment. Benyounes’ โขresponse is consistent: “We have to take thingsโฃ one step โat a time.”
That guidance, Augenstein notes, is the sameโค advice Benyounes offered him when his cancer journey began three yearsโ ago.
