Disclaimer: This article has been researched using reputable medical sources but was not written by a healthcare professional. We hope it can help you start taking action toward better health, but meeting with a healthcare provider is recommended for guidance specific to your diagnosis and treatment.
Keasha Draft was 37 years old. She was in great shape. She had never smoked. Her only sign that something was wrong was a little shortness of breath.
Within days, she was told she had stage 4 lung cancer.
Her husband, former NFL linebacker Chris Draft, now travels the country telling her story. As an international lung cancer advocate, he shares one message above all others: anyone with lungs can get lung cancer. Speaking at the Nixon National Cancer Conference at the Nixon Library, he also made a point that matters for all of us: when we talk about cancer advocacy, it has to represent all of our communities.
In his words: “As we’re talking about it, it’s critical that we make sure that it represents all our different communities.”
This article shares Chris Draft’s lung cancer story and the lessons it holds about lung cancer in non-smokers, screening, radon, biomarker testing, and support for the whole person.
Keasha's Story: Lung Cancer at 37, With No Smoking History
Keasha was healthy and active. She had no history of smoking. When she started feeling a little short of breath, she did what many of us would do: she went to see her primary care doctor.
Her doctor ordered a chest X-ray. Then came a PET scan and an MRI. Doctors found a mass in her left lung and diagnosed her with stage 4 lung cancer.4,6
Her care team also did biomarker testing, which looks for specific changes in a tumor. Her results were negative for changes such as ALK and EGFR. She went on to have chemotherapy and radiation.
Chris has said that Keasha’s story taught him a hard truth. He would not have believed that someone so young, with no smoking history, could get lung cancer. Then it happened to the person he loved most.
A Wedding Day With Two Commitments
Keasha and Chris were married on November 27, 2011. She passed away one month later, on December 27, 2011.
Even then, Keasha was thinking about other people. Instead of wedding gifts, she suggested they ask family and friends to donate to their foundation, so they could keep fighting for and supporting the larger lung cancer community.⁶
That choice helped launch Team Draft, an effort of the Chris Draft Family Foundation. Team Draft works to raise lung cancer awareness and research funding and to break the idea that lung cancer is only a “smoker’s disease.”⁴ Chris has described their wedding day as two commitments: one to the lung cancer community and one to each other.1,2
Lesson 1: Anyone Can Get Lung Cancer, Including Non-Smokers
Chris’s most important message is simple: “Anyone can get lung cancer… that’s the most important fact.”
The numbers back him up. Each year in the United States, 10 to 20 percent of lung cancers happen in people who never smoked or smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lives.¹ Team Draft estimates that 20,000 to 30,000 people who have never smoked are diagnosed with lung cancer each year.⁴
What causes lung cancer in non-smokers? Smoking is still the leading cause overall. But for people who have never smoked, the leading cause is radon.2,3 Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in soil and rock. You can’t see it, smell it, or taste it. It can build up inside homes and other buildings.2,3
The EPA estimates that radon causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States each year, and about 1 in 15 homes has elevated levels.1,2 The only way to know if your home has a problem is to test for it. Test kits are inexpensive and widely available.²
Other causes in non-smokers include secondhand smoke, air pollution, certain workplace exposures, and family history.³
Lesson 2: Lung Cancer Stigma Hurts Everyone
Many people with lung cancer are asked the same painful question: “Did you smoke?” Chris says the stigma weighs on everyone, no matter their history. He has a message for each group:
- If you have a smoking history: “For somebody who has a smoking history, you know what? It is not your fault.”
- If you have quit smoking: “For somebody who has stopped smoking, man, come on, that’s one of the greatest accomplishments you had in your life.”
- If you are diagnosed with lung cancer: “For a person who is diagnosed with lung cancer, you matter.”
Chris believes every patient matters, whatever their smoking history. Stigma can make people feel ashamed, delay them from seeking care, and take attention and funding away from research. Team Draft says the smoking stigma has hurt lung cancer research funding compared with other major cancers.⁴
Lesson 3: Know Your Lung Cancer Screening Options
Prevention is still essential. So is finding lung cancer early, when it is easier to treat.
Right now, lung cancer screening is recommended for adults ages 50 to 80 who have a significant smoking history. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends a yearly low-dose CT scan for people who:⁹
- Are 50 to 80 years old
- Have a 20 pack-year smoking history
- Currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years
If you meet these criteria, getting screened can be a lifesaving step. For more, read our guide: Lung Cancer Screening Guidelines You Should Know About.
There is an important catch, and Keasha’s story shows it clearly. Because screening guidelines are based on smoking history, people who have never smoked usually don’t qualify. That means awareness of symptoms matters even more. Shortness of breath that doesn’t go away, a lasting cough, chest pain, or unexplained tiredness are all reasons to talk to your doctor, even if you have never smoked. (See: How to Spot Lung Cancer Symptoms in Women)
Lesson 4: Ask About Biomarker Testing for Lung Cancer
When Chris talks about progress in lung cancer care, he points to targeted therapies. He explains why in plain terms: “Biomarker testing is critically important because we’re finding out that there’s certain people that can benefit from certain treatments, rather than just throwing it out.”
Here is what that means. Biomarker testing (also called molecular or genomic testing) looks at a sample of the tumor, or sometimes the blood, to find specific gene changes that are driving the cancer. Doctors can then match some patients with medicines designed to target those changes. Common tests look for changes in genes such as EGFR and ALK.10,11
Experts recommend biomarker testing for people diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer, the most common type.10,11 Not everyone will have a change that can be targeted, as in Keasha’s case. But finding out early gives you and your care team the full picture of your options.
Chris has also said that the number of treatment options has more than tripled since Keasha was diagnosed.⁸ That is real hope. But you have to know to ask.
Lesson 5: Survivorship Means Supporting the Whole Person
For Chris, the fight doesn’t end with treatment. He asks: “What does survivorship look like?” His answer: “It looks like rallying around our people and meeting them where they are… making sure there’s resources that are needed, because it’s not just cancer that we’re fighting; we’re supporting a person.”
In practice, that can look like:
- Helping patients and families understand their diagnosis and options
- Making sure everyone has access to the information and resources they need
- Listening and meeting people where they are, with respect for their culture and circumstances
- Supporting caregivers, who are often carrying a heavy load too
- Treating the whole person, not just the disease
This is also why Chris insists that cancer advocacy has to include every community. When some groups are left out of the conversation, they are also left out of screening, research, and care.
Self-Advocacy Language For Readers
If you are worried about your lungs, or caring for someone who is, try using these words with your doctor:
- “I have had shortness of breath for a while and I want to know what is causing it. Can we look into it, even though I have never smoked?”
- “Can we talk about whether imaging, like a chest X-ray or CT scan, makes sense?”
- “If I am diagnosed with lung cancer, will my tumor be tested for biomarkers like EGFR and ALK?”
- “Can you tell me which treatment options match my specific test results?”
- “Can you connect me with support services, counseling, or patient navigation?”
- “I would like to test my home for radon. Do you have any guidance on where to start?”
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is Chris Draft?
A: Chris Draft is a former NFL linebacker and an international lung cancer advocate. After his wife, Keasha, died of lung cancer, he founded Team Draft, an effort of the Chris Draft Family Foundation, to raise awareness and research funding and to reduce stigma.
Q: Can you get lung cancer if you have never smoked?
A: Yes. Each year, 10 to 20 percent of lung cancers occur in people who never smoked or smoked very little. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among people who have never smoked.
Q: What is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers?
A: Radon, a radioactive gas that can build up in homes, is the leading cause of lung cancer among people who don’t smoke, according to the EPA. Testing your home is the only way to know your level.
Q: Who should get screened for lung cancer?
A: Screening with a yearly low-dose CT scan is recommended for adults ages 50 to 80 who have a 20 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years.
Q: What is biomarker testing for lung cancer?
A: Biomarker testing checks a tumor sample for specific gene changes, such as EGFR or ALK. Results can help doctors choose treatments that target those changes. It is recommended for people diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer.
Q: What was Keasha Draft’s lung cancer story?
A: Keasha was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer at age 37. She was in great shape, had never smoked, and her only early symptom was mild shortness of breath. She passed away on December 27, 2011.
References
- CDC. (2026). Saving Lives from Lung Cancer: Seeing Past the Smoke. Retrieved from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/radon/hcp/stories/index.html
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2026). Health Risk of Radon. Retrieved from EPA: https://www.epa.gov/radon/health-risk-radon
- American Cancer Society. (2026). Radon and Cancer Risk. Retrieved from American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/radiation-exposure/radon.html
- Team Draft. (n.d.). About Team Draft. Retrieved from Team Draft: https://www.teamdraft.org/about/
- Massachusetts General Hospital. (n.d.). The One Hundred Honoree: Chris Draft. Retrieved from MGH Giving: https://giving.massgeneral.org/stories/chris-draft
- CURE. (2026). From NFL Linebacker to Lung Cancer Advocate, Chris Draft Is Fighting for the Patients Who Come Next. Retrieved from CURE: https://www.curetoday.com/view/from-nfl-linebacker-to-lung-cancer-advocate-chris-draft-is-fighting-for-the-patients-who-come-next
- CURE. (2022). ‘Fight Like a Linebacker’ Says Former NFL Player and Cancer Advocate. Retrieved from CURE: https://www.curetoday.com/view/-fight-like-a-linebacker-says-former-nfl-player-and-cancer-advocate
- KKCO 11 News. (2026, February 4). Advocates Say Most Lung Cancer Patients Are Non-Smokers. Retrieved from KKCO: https://www.kkco11news.com/2026/02/04/advocates-say-most-lung-cancer-patients-are-non-smokers/
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. (2021, March 9). Lung Cancer: Screening. Retrieved from USPSTF: https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/lung-cancer-screening
- American Lung Association. (2026). EGFR and Lung Cancer: Testing, Results & Treatment Options. Retrieved from American Lung Association: https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/lung-cancer/symptoms-diagnosis/biomarker-testing/egfr
- Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. (2017). What, When, and How of Biomarker Testing in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer. Retrieved from JNCCN: https://jnccn.org/view/journals/jnccn/15/5S/article-p686.xml
- The Patient Story. (2026). Chris Draft: The Team Player (White Ribbon Project). Retrieved from The Patient Story: https://thepatientstory.com/patient-stories/lung-cancer/the-white-ribbon-project/chris-draft/
