In Feb. 2018, Barrington native Dr. Jennifer (Zannini) Cipriani heard news she never expected.

The mother of two who enjoys running and has never smoked cigarettes in her life, was diagnosed with lung cancer.

"We were kind of shocked," Dr. Cipriani said. "I've never smoked."

It was a stubborn, chronic cough that led Dr. Cipriani to visit her doctor two years ago. She was not sure what was wrong, but was floored by the diagnosis.

The lung cancer is called EGFR and targets non-smokers and even people who have never smoked. Dr. Cipriani, who had been a member of a running club, exercised regularly and enjoyed jogging.

The cancer did not care.

Shortly after being diagnosed, Dr. Cipriani began targeted therapy, taking a single pill each night that battles the cancer.

"It works well," she said. "But it only works for so long."

The cancer mutates, said Dr. Cipriani, rendering the medicine less effective over time. Without another medication to fight the cancer, Dr. Cipriani would have to turn to chemotherapy.

Dr. Cipriani knows that there are doctors who are working hard to find other drugs that can combat her form of cancer, but their work is often stymied by lack of funding.

"They're close. They're really close," she said. "There's so much research for the next generation" of medications.

In an effort to support their work, Dr. Cipriani has started Project Breathing Hope and built a Facebook page to share more information. All of the proceeds from the fund-raising page — she's also planning some events to raise money — will go to doctors who are working to combat cancer.

Dr. Cipriani is hoping to raise $100,000 in the first year.

Tough news

Dr. Cipriani grew up in Barrington and much of her family still lives in town. She said that sharing the news of her diagnosis was very difficult.

"It's been tough," she said.

Dr. Cipriani, who graduated from Barrington High School in 1991, said her family has been very supportive. She said her sister, Barrington resident Julie Bianco, has been wonderful.

An anesthesiologist, Dr. Cipriani has stopped working for now. She said she spending lots of time with her husband Matt and their two children, Charlotte and Jack.

Statistics

Dr. Cipriani provided some information about lung cancer:

• Lung cancer receives only $1,831 in federal research funds per death, compared to $4,582 for colorectal cancer and $13,406 for breast cancer.

• Around 70 percent of lung cancer victims are never-smokers (100 or fewer cigarettes smoked over a lifetime) or reformed smokers.

• Women are at greater risk for lung cancer.

• Around 15 percent of all lung cancer patients in the U.S. are diagnosed with EGFR-positive (EGFR+) lung cancer, with prevalence among people of Eastern Asian descent much higher, between 35 and 50 percent.

• Roughly 50 percent of young adults with lung cancer have EGFR mutations.