Ilona Mančíková was 43 when she was diagnosed with lung cancer. It was something she never expected. A lifelong non-smoker with an active lifestyle, she was training for a half-marathon when she started to notice mild symptoms. During running and yoga, she felt shortness of breath and had a persistent cough. At first, she thought it was nothing serious. But when the symptoms did not go away, she decided to see a doctor.
After several tests, she was diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer. The news came as a shock. Because the tumour was still small and in an early stage, it took time to confirm the diagnosis. Waiting for results was emotionally difficult. Fortunately, because the cancer was found early, Ilona was able to have surgery and recovered well with support from physiotherapy and follow-up care.
Ilona is not part of the group usually considered high-risk for lung cancer, but she is a strong supporter of the Czech Republic’s national lung cancer screening programme, which offers screening to people at high risk of developing the disease. People are considered high-risk for lung cancer if they are 55 or older and currently smoke or used to smoke the equivalent of one 20-pack of cigarettes a day for 20 years. Lung cancer screening helps detect lung cancer early, before symptoms appear, when treatment has a better chance of success.
Ilona’s story is a powerful reminder that early detection of lung cancer can lead to better treatment and recovery. Watch as Ilona shares her story in her own words:
Following her recovery, Ilona began sharing her story online. She discovered many others had faced similar situations and often felt isolated. Realising the need for greater awareness and support, she co-founded Moje plíce (My Lungs) in 2023 with two other survivors.
My Lungs provides peer support to patients, raises awareness about early symptoms and screening, and works with Czech institutions to improve care and access to treatment. The organisation also highlights the need for equal access to services across different regions of the country.
A key priority for Ilona is emotional wellbeing. She understands how deeply a diagnosis can affect patients and their families. My Lungs has produced a series of videos and resources with a psychologist to help people cope, including how to manage anxiety, how to share the news with loved ones, and how to stay hopeful. Ilona believes psychological support should be a routine part of cancer care and encourages hospitals to make it available to all who need it.
Ilona’s story is a reminder that lung cancer can affect anyone. Her experience shows how early detection can lead to positive outcomes, and how personal experiences can help drive change. Through My Lungs, she continues to support others and raise awareness so that more people feel informed and supported.
Learn more about lung cancer screening – available in 16 languages
This project is co-funded under the EU4Health Programme 2021–2027 under grant agreement no. 101101187. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
