Stage 4 Lung Cancer Patient Sees Tumor Reduction in Trial

Three years after a persistent cough turned out to be stage 4 lung cancer, Shakirah Duckett is preparing to walk through the Philadelphia Zoo this weekend with something she didn't have before: real hope.

In July 2022, Duckett developed a cough after getting COVID. She visited doctor after doctor, trying treatments for allergies and pneumonia, but nothing worked.

A pulmonologist finally ordered a biopsy in 2023. The results shocked her: stage 4 cancer in both lungs.

"Cancer wasn't even in my thoughts at the time," Duckett said. "I was pretty healthy outside of this cough."

The next two years brought a marathon of treatments. Chemotherapy failed. Immunotherapy failed. Standard drugs offered no relief.

But Duckett didn't give up. She enrolled in clinical trials, traveling regularly from Philadelphia to Fairfax, Virginia, for experimental treatments.

Now on her third trial, she's finally seeing results. Her tumors in both lungs have significantly shrunk.

"There has been a great reduction in the tumors in both lungs," Duckett said.

Why This Inspires

Duckett's journey shows how clinical trials offer real hope when standard treatments fall short. Her willingness to keep trying, to travel hundreds of miles, and to test experimental approaches helped her find the treatment that's working.

But the cancer gave her something unexpected too: a new way of living.

"It has taught me to just live in the moment," Duckett said, "and always remain positive and not to really stress. Because prior to cancer, I stressed about everything."

This weekend, Duckett will participate in the American Lung Association's 12th Annual Lung Force Walk at the Philadelphia Zoo. She's excited to meet others who understand her journey.

The event expects over 1,000 participants from the Delaware Valley and hopes to raise $250,000 for lung health research and support programs. CBS News Philadelphia anchor Ukee Washington will kick off the opening ceremony.

For Duckett, the walk represents more than fundraising: it's a celebration of progress, perseverance, and the power of never giving up.