Debra Montague Becomes New President of Lung Cancer Europe: A Big Win for Patient Advocacy

Leadership rooted in lived experience is powerful—and that’s exactly what makes Debra Montague’s appointment as the new President of Lung Cancer Europe (LuCE) so inspiring.

Debra is no stranger to the lung cancer community. Over the past year, she served as LuCE’s Vice President and is also the Chair of ALK Positive Lung Cancer UK. She brings something incredibly powerful to the table: both lived experience as a patient and years of dedicated advocacy work.

In fact, Debra is the first-ever patient to take on the role of LuCE President. That alone speaks volumes about how far patient voices have come in shaping the conversation around lung cancer.

Here’s what Debra had to say about this new role:

“I’m honoured to have been elected President of Lung Cancer Europe. Anne-Marie Baird has led with such heart, clarity and dedication—she’s done so much to shape LuCE into the strong, trusted voice it is today. She’s leaving it in great shape, and I know I have big shoes to fill.

As LuCE’s first patient President, I know what this moment means—not just for me, but for how far patient advocacy has come over the past decade. I’ll be doing everything I can to build on that work—standing up for people affected by lung cancer, challenging the stigma, and making sure our community is heard across Europe.”

pphoto from Lung Cancer Europe/LinkedIn

Debra takes over from Anne-Marie Baird, who led LuCE with dedication and vision, helping make it a respected and powerful voice in lung cancer advocacy. Anne-Marie leaves behind a strong legacy, and Debra is ready to build on that foundation.

So, what is Lung Cancer Europe (LuCE)?

LuCE is the voice of people affected by lung cancer across Europe. It brings together national patient groups and supports new ones in countries where they don’t yet exist. LuCE works hard to challenge stigma, improve access to care, and make sure people living with lung cancer are heard.

Their mission is to:

• Stand up for people impacted by or at risk of lung cancer

• Work together with others to improve outcomes

• Empower members to be strong advocates

And their vision is simple and powerful:

Every person affected by lung cancer in Europe should get the best possible care and quality of life, no matter where they live.

Photo from All.Can

What does LuCE care about?

• Putting patients first

• Building a strong, united community

• Driving real change through collaboration

• Acting with integrity, respect, and professionalism

• Making sure patient voices are part of every important conversation

Photo from Lung Cancer Europe

What are LuCE’s main goals right now?

• Help people get diagnosed earlier and more accurately

• Make sure everyone can access the best treatments and care

• Strengthen the patient voice in Europe

• Change the narrative and break the stigma around lung cancer

• Build a sustainable, impactful organization

A New Chapter Begins

With Debra Montague now leading the way, Lung Cancer Europe is entering a new chapter—one where lived experience and professional advocacy come together to make sure every voice matters, every story is heard, and no one faces lung cancer alone.

Let’s keep the conversation going.

If you’re passionate about lung cancer advocacy, patient voices, and health equity in Europe, now is a great time to get involved, support LuCE’s work, or simply learn more.

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Together, we’re stronger—and together, we can change the future of lung cancer care.