In November, a WTOP Radio reporter, Neal Augenstein, received a stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis after a bronchoscopy biopsy showed adenocarcinoma. This slow-growing lung cancer had spread to a lymph node in his chest.
Augenstein has been providing regular updates about his condition on social media and recently shared positive news that his lesions were shrinking and that he has no new lesions elsewhere. He attributed this progress to Osimertinib, the standard treatment for his type of cancer, which prevents certain types of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from recurring after surgery or as a first-line treatment for non-small cell lung NSCLC that has spread to other body parts in adults.
Augenstein is a well-known voice in Washington D.C. radio and has been with WTOP since 1997, starting as a part-time news anchor. In 2010, he became the first major market radio reporter to conduct most of his field production using an iPhone. Last year, he disclosed that he had been experiencing a dry cough, suspicious x-rays, and CAT scans for the past two months, leading to his diagnosis.
Augenstein’s contributions to WTOP have resulted in numerous Edward R. Murrow Awards, and he has reported on significant events such as the Beltway Sniper case and the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
