LUNGevity Kicks Off Lung Cancer Awareness Month with "Change LC"

WASHINGTON, DC, November 3, 2014 -- This November, LUNGevity Foundation, the premier lung cancer research foundation, kicks off Lung Cancer Awareness Month with “Change LUNG CANCER,” a social media campaign created to change the way people view and discuss the nation’s top cancer killer.

Those directly affected by lung cancer are well aware of the statistics, but the general public lacks a general understanding of the disease.  To address this disconnect, LUNGevity is launching the Change LC campaign, encouraging everyone to take photos that include downloadable lung cancer facts to share with their friends, tagging @LUNGevity and using the hashtag #ChangeLC.  Lung cancer survivors are asked to share their stories through the LUNGevity blog so that their experiences may inspire change and hope in others.

With 220,000 people in America currently living with lung cancer and 436 of this group dying daily, lung cancer continues to be a serious threat.  Of the one in 14 Americans diagnosed with lung cancer in their lifetime, more than 60% are never-smokers or former smokers.  These facts are among the many downloadable statistics that individuals can use in their photos.  Photographs can be creative, serious, clever, touching, or hopeful.  To learn more about the Change LC campaign and how you can participate, please visit www.LUNGevity.org/LCAM2014.

In addition to joining in the social media initiative, individuals are encouraged to donate to lung cancer research, attend awareness-raising events, and talk with others about the disease.  Learn more at www.lungevity.org.

“Growing awareness of lung cancer and the extraordinary work being done in the field is imperative to achieving victory against the disease,” said Andrea Ferris, President and Chairman of LUNGevity Foundation.  “Every new discovery in lung cancer research resulting from the work of dedicated researchers can be tied to the efforts of those across the nation who have attended walks and events, donated in honor of a friend or loved one, and raised their voice in honor of those who cannot.  The Change LUNG CANCER campaign creates an opportunity for everyone to stand up as agents for change, making a difference in the lives of those diagnosed with lung cancer.  In the last five years, research and general knowledge of the disease have expanded exponentially, and there is boundless potential in the groundbreaking research that is underway and lies ahead.”

Since 2002, LUNGevity has funded 110 research projects at 57 institutions in 23 states and has connected people to lung cancer survivorship through research, education, and support. Throughout the year, LUNGevity coordinates grassroots and large-scale initiatives with the goal of funding research to extend patients’ lives and improve quality of life post-diagnosis. The research is specifically focused on expediting development of an effective early-detection strategy and identifying therapeutic agents that improve outcomes for people with lung cancer.

“Through the support and dedication of LUNGevity and lung cancer advocates nationwide, research has resulted in advancements that are changing how people live with the disease.  Focusing great scientific minds on the challenges of new and innovative early detection technology and treatments has brought immunology, biomarker testing, and genomic-targeted therapies to the forefront,” said Dr. Pierre Massion, Chair of LUNGevity’s Scientific Advisory Board. “Growing awareness and support for lung cancer research will ultimately advance knowledge of the disease and revolutionize how we diagnose it early and how we treat it.”

LUNGevity will host a variety of educational, informational, and fundraising programs and events throughout November.  Activities will include:

• LUNGevity’s longest-running event, the 2014 Fall Benefit on November 8 in Chicago, will raise funds for high-impact research, support, and education programs. The Fall Benefit was LUNGevity’s inaugural event in 2001. Since its inception, the event has raised more than $4.1 million to fund the most promising lung cancer research in the world. For more information, visit www.LUNGevity.org/fallbenefit.
• Grassroots events throughout the national LUNGevity network to raise funds for lifesaving lung cancer research and create awareness about the disease. To find an event in your area, go to www.LUNGevity.org/events.

For more information, please visit www.LUNGevity.org.

About Lung Cancer

• 1 in 14 Americans is diagnosed with lung cancer in their lifetime.
• About 60 percent of all new lung cancer diagnoses are among people who have never smoked or are former smokers.
• Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, regardless of gender or ethnicity.
• Lung cancer kills almost twice as many women as breast cancer and more than three times as many men as prostate cancer.
• Only 17 percent of all people diagnosed with lung cancer will survive 5 years or more, but if it’s caught before it spreads, the chance for 5-year survival improves greatly.

About LUNGevity Foundation

LUNGevity Foundation is firmly committed to making an immediate impact on increasing quality of life and survivorship of people with lung cancer by accelerating research into early detection and more effective treatments, as well as by providing community, support, and education for all those affected by the disease.  Our vision is a world where no one dies of lung cancer. For more information about LUNGevity Foundation, please visit www.LUNGevity.org.