Archive for November, 2010

Jill Feldman

Ten Years

November 11th, 2010 - by Jill Feldman

This Saturday night, November 13, 2010, is LUNGevity’s 10th annual Fall Benefit at the Field Museum in Chicago. Wow! Ten years of fighting lung cancer is not an easy feat. Fighting for lung cancer is an uphill battle and sometimes I feel like we’ll never make it to the top. But, I remind myself that in order to get there, we have to make some significant strides along the way, and we have.

Ten years ago lung cancer was the invisible disease. Today there are several organizations fighting for lung cancer education, advocacy and research dollars; Scientists have identified several cancer cell mutations and they have developed drugs targeted to treat those specific mutations; Researchers believe there is a familial link to lung cancer, most likely having to do with genetic mutation and today, I have survived lung cancer because of early detection.

I’m not a big fan of the music my kids listen to, but when I hear the song, “The Climb,” by Miley Cyrus, I think about the uphill battle we are fighting for lung cancer. I also think about LUNGevity and how it’s been my support during the climb. All of the lyrics are great and can apply to just about any goal you are trying to reach, but it’s the chorus and part of one verse that really resonates with me. It goes as follows:

The struggles I’m facing,

The chances I’m taking

Sometimes they knock me down but

No I’m not breaking.

There’s always gonna be another mountain

I’m always gonna wanna make it move

Always gonna be an uphill battle

Sometimes I’m gonna have to lose

Ain’t about how fast I get there

Ain’t about what’s waitin on the other side

It’s the climb.

It is about the climb. LUNGevity was the first organization dedicated exclusively to funding lung cancer research. There is both a lot of excitement and a lot of pressure that comes with filling a badly needed niche. Through the years there have been growing pains and many challenges, but those are the crossroads that have defined the organization that we are today. And for me personally, the climb helped me reconcile with losing so many people I loved from lung cancer. It also helped me because my involvement with LUNGevity armed me with the weapons (knowledge, friendships and relationships with doctors and nurses) I needed to face my own lung cancer diagnosis with courage and not fear.

I’ve been so focused on getting to the top and reaching my goal of curing lung cancer that I overlooked all that I have gained in the process (the climb). I have made lifelong friends who understand a part of me that no one else does. Some of us have been working together since the beginning and because of the experience we share we will always have a special bond. The time and energy that we gave to nurture and grow LUNGevity was difficult and exhausting, and we didn’t always agree, but we listened, trusted and always respected each other. We laughed a lot and there were times we cried together, but we always fought hard so we wouldn’t have to see another person we cared about receive a lung cancer diagnosis. When the unthinkable happened and I was diagnosed, together we went through the emotions of realizing we were also fighting for our own lives.

So, on Saturday night we will celebrate all that we have accomplished the past 10 years and then we’ll keep climbing until we reach the top!

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Posted in Events, Lung Cancer, LUNGevity | 4 Comments »

National Lung Screening Trial

November 10th, 2010 - by Andrea Ferris

Those of us in the lung cancer community know the underlying grimness that accompanies the words “you have lung cancer.” We know that those words are delivered to nearly 200,000 Americans every year and that nearly 160,000 die each year of this dise

ase–more than the number of people who die of breast, colorectal, pancreatic and prostate cancers combined. While we are making incremental progress on many fronts in the battle against lung cancer, breakthroughs have been elusive. For that reason, the recent announcement by the National Cancer Institute that the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) recorded twenty percent fewer lung cancer deaths among current and former smokers screened with a spiral CT scan rather than the commonly used chest X-ray is monumental. It proves that lives can and will be saved if lung cancer is diagnosed at earlier stages.

It is critical to see the conclusion of the NLST study as a new beginning. Many doctors have believed that CT scans would help diagnose lung cancer at an earlier stage, but we did not have proof that using CT scans would save lives. With the release of initial findings for the NLST study, we have conclusive evidence of the importance of early diagnosis for lung cancer. What previously was intuitive is now demonstrably the case, and that is the true significance of the study. There will be continuing discussion of important considerations that arise out of the study: Who should get a CT scan? How often? Will insurance companies now be willing to pay for CT scans? Will false positives from the scans prove hugely problematic? How do we find lung cancer early for more people?

All of these questions deserve answers, and answers will be forthcoming. For now, what is of most consequence is the fundamental linkage between early diagnosis and survival. It is vital that we build on this research to develop more effective diagnostic and treatment methods that are cost-effective, widely available and utilized. Government and corporate funding have long neglected lung cancer research. Financial support for lung cancer research is vastly disproportionate to the number of people affected and killed by this disease. We must use the momentum provided by the NLST findings to push for additional funding for vitally needed research that has the potential to dramatically change the way we diagnose and treat lung cancer.

We need everyone in the lung cancer community to raise their voices and move lung cancer up on the national health agenda. We need you to reach outside the community and recruit others to commit to our cause. We need strong words and determined action. We need the nation to commit to ending lung cancer now.Rich Text AreaToolbarBold (Ctrl + B)Italic (Ctrl + I)Strikethrough (Alt + Shift + D)Unordered list (Alt + Shift + U)Ordered list (Alt + Shift + O)Blockquote (Alt + Shift + Q)Align Left (Alt + Shift + L)Align Center (Alt + Shift + C)Align Right (Alt + Shift + R)Insert/edit link (Alt + Shift + A)Unlink (Alt + Shift + S)Insert More Tag (Alt + Shift + T)Toggle spellchecker (Alt + Shift + N)▼
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Those of us in the lung cancer community know the underlying grimness that accompanies the words “you have lung cancer.” We know that those words are delivered to nearly 200,000 Americans every year and that nearly 160,000 die each year of this disease–more than the number of people who die of breast, colorectal, pancreatic and prostate cancers combined. While we are making incremental progress on many fronts in the battle against lung cancer, breakthroughs have been elusive. For that reason, the recent announcement by the National Cancer Institute that the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) recorded twenty percent fewer lung cancer deaths among current and former smokers screened with a spiral CT scan rather than the commonly used chest X-ray is monumental. It proves that lives can and will be saved if lung cancer is diagnosed at earlier stages.
It is critical to see the conclusion of the NLST study as a new beginning. Many doctors have believed that CT scans would help diagnose lung cancer at an earlier stage, but we did not have proof that using CT scans would save lives. With the release of initial findings for the NLST study, we have conclusive evidence of the importance of early diagnosis for lung cancer. What previously was intuitive is now demonstrably the case, and that is the true significance of the study. There will be continuing discussion of important considerations that arise out of the study: Who should get a CT scan? How often? Will insurance companies now be willing to pay for CT scans? Will false positives from the scans prove hugely problematic? How do we find lung cancer early for more people?
All of these questions deserve answers, and answers will be forthcoming. For now, what is of most consequence is the fundamental linkage between early diagnosis and survival. It is vital that we build on this

research to develop more effective diagnostic and treatment methods that are cost-effective, widely available and utilized. Government and corporate funding have long neglected lung cancer research. Financial support for lung cancer research is vastly disproportionate to the number of people affected and killed by this disease. We must use the momentum provided by the NLST findings to push for additional funding for vitally needed research that has the potential to dramatically change the way we diagnose and treat lung cancer.
We need everyone in the lung cancer community to raise their voices and move lung cancer up on the national health agenda. We need you to reach outside the community and recruit others to commit to our cause. We need strong words and determined action. We need the nation to commit to ending lung cancer now.
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Posted in Research | 2 Comments »

Katie Brown

NCI releases NLST trial findings…(yes,this IS big news )

November 8th, 2010 - by Katie Brown

by Katie Brown

MD Anderson calls it the biggest ray of hope in lung cancer history and a huge step to fighting this disease. (see video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqcMR8u06wQ)

And my favorite broadcast of the breaking news can be found here ABC:

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/CancerPreventionAndTreatment/ct-scans-catch-lung-cancer-earlier-rays-nci/story?id=12055874

For LUNGevity’s official release on the significance of these findings, click here http://events.lungevity.org/site/PageNavigator/v2_News_110410

But what does it mean?

The National Lung Screening Trial study scientifically proves the use of low dose CT Scanning of high risk patients between the ages of 55-75, with a 30-pack year smoking history, gives a 20% reduction in lung cancer deaths and that low dose CT Scans are better than chest x-rays in detecting lung cancer.

Most lung cancer advocates have been promoting the use of CT Scans as a tool for early detection for years, but amidst controversy from medical professionals (false positives) and insurance companies (cost effectiveness) we haven’t progressed in this area until now. It’s been our personal survival stories vs. their medical opinions on whether or not any benefit outweighed the risks.

It’s big news to have the NCI release findings that could potentially offer an early detection screening tool, covered by insurance companies, that reduce mortality of the deadliest cancer killer!

But truthfully it’s hard for me to be completely excited about this news that most in my circle have known for years. Progress is slow and in that time I’ve seen so many people die who may have been saved by finding their cancer in its earliest stages instead of the latest.

And I always think about the large population of people UNDER age 55 who don’t fit into that study’s high-risk category who were diagnosed with lung cancer and died.

And I think about the never smokers. Even with CT Scans for those at high risk for lung cancer, their lives won’t be impacted because they are NOT at high risk and their cancers will still only be found in the latest stages.

And I think about my dad…who DID fit into that NLST high risk catagory…but even with earlier detection he wouldn’t have gotten a cure.

The treatments for his type of lung cancer haven’t really changed in the last 30 years and I’ve seen no progress in the treatment of small cell lung cancer in the 7 years since he has passed away.

So while I’m glad for this small step and thrilled about the lives CT Screenings will save, I’m still very determined and motivated, by all those we’ve lost, to move forward and press for more awareness, more research funding and more treatment options so that other people won’t lose someone they love to this disease like I did.

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Katie Brown

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month

November 1st, 2010 - by Katie Brown

by Katie Brown

October has come to a close and today marks the beginning of Lung Cancer Awareness Month (LCAM).

Did you know that?

Most people who aren’t directly affected by lung cancer won’t know what this month means to people like me.

November, to them, will mean turkeys and holiday dinners and those after-Thanksgiving sales.

We won’t see a sea of “pearl” like October’s pink-out from pink pencils to pink porta-potties. You won’t see regular public service announcements on national television and there aren’t a deluge of participating businesses, celebrities and national marketing campaigns like those that feature the famous pink ribbon.

Lung cancer is the invisible disease.

The original ribbon color for lung cancer was “clear” but for marketing purposes and product sales that color migrated to a pearly-white color to show up against your clothes. Still, those with lung cancer remain almost invisible in mainstream media.

Lung cancer is the nations leading cancer killer amongst all major cancers, all ethnic groups and both men and women, but surprisingly lung cancer gets very little recognition, virtually no federal funding and not a lot of compassion. It’s not a “sexy” cancer.

There’s a stigma attached to this disease. People assume lung cancer is only a smokers disease, that those who are diagnosed “asked” for it by smoking. A lot of people think that if they don’t smoke (quit or never smoked) that they are immune to the disease. They don’t know that 60% of people quit smoking decades ago or never smoked in their lives. They don’t know that anyone can get lung cancer and that no matter if you smoked or not, no one deserves lung cancer.

The fact is, quitting smoking and eliminating tobacco won’t cure lung cancer, but funding research into life-saving treatments will.

That’s why this month is so important to us. It’s a call out to all lung cancer advocates to unite and raise their voices. It’s a chance for us to educate and inform the general public about the epidemic of lung cancer.

It’s the deadliest cancer killer. About 435 people will die of lung cancer a DAY. There is no early detection method for lung cancer and the majority of people diagnosed with lung cancer are diagnosed in the latest stages where the 1 year survival rate is terrifically low.

When my dad was diagnosed, the standard of treatment for his type of lung cancer hadn’t changed in over 30 years. He lived 11 months and 21 days after his diagnosis. He deserved a fighting chance. I miss him everyday.

I’m asking my readers, and everyone I meet, to spread the word about lung cancer. For me, LCAM is every month, but during November I make an extra effort, so that one day no one else will lose someone they love to this disease.

At LUNGevity Foundation, our advocates get proclamations from our governors and mayors declaring LCAM. We send out press releases and write news stories and plan our awareness events in November. It’s a mighty grassroots effort to affect change, raise awareness and funding for lung cancer research. Each of us have been personally wounded by this disease.

Will you please help me spread the word?

Tell someone that November is lung cancer awareness month. Tell people the statistics and let them know that if they breathe, they can get lung cancer too.

Do it for yourself and for someone you love because we are all at risk. Do it in honor of the 435 people who will die today.

Post about LCAM on your social networking sites, email your friends and family, register to participate in a LUNGevity event this month and buy products that give back to lung cancer research.

Each step we take is a step closer to a cure.

Walk with us.

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