Archive for the ‘LUNGevity’ Category

Katie Brown

Caregiver Contest Winner

January 18th, 2012 - by Katie Brown

Washington, D.C. (January 18, 2012) — LUNGevity Foundation is pleased to announce Cyndi Siegfried of  Germantown, Tenn. as the winner of its Annual Caregiver Contest, recognizing a special individual who has provided exceptional care to a lung cancer patient. Cyndi was nominated for the award by her husband Jim, a 9-year lung cancer survivor who is currently cancer-free.

Over the course of their lives, one in 14 Americans is affected by lung cancer. Lung cancer caregivers are mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, neighbors and family friends of all ages.  In most cases, they have no medical background, yet they play a crucial role in helping lung cancer survivors manage their disease, often coordinating medical care and providing emotional and physical support, in addition to tending to household and professional needs. LUNGevity Foundation recognizes the vital role these caregivers play in the fight against the nation’s number one cancer killer and honors their commitment and love with its Annual Caregiver Contest.

During the month of November, Lung Cancer Awareness Month, LUNGevity asked the public to submit nominations for an incredible caregiver. Many dedicated men and women were nominated, including husbands, wives, daughters, sons-in-laws, sisters, mothers, fathers, and friends. Cyndi Siegfried was ultimately chosen by an independent panel of judges, based on specific criteria of caregiving:

  • Being an advocate for their loved one’s medical needs
  • Being supportive and helpful with their loved one’s emotional needs
  • Successfully creating a support network around their patient

Cyndi has been the primary caregiver for Jim, who was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2002.  In his nomination, Jim noted that “in 2002, Cyndi was computer illiterate. We bought a computer and she dove in, teaching herself, in order to research my particular type of cancer, get information about trials, traditional and complementary treatments, and to find the best doctors and cancer hospitals. She has been my encourager, helping me to keep my focus on what is really important. She has been at the forefront from day one, making sure I get the best of what I need to fight this disease. But she doesn’t see herself as a ‘caregiver’ but rather as a person who loves someone with cancer.”

Recognizing the special needs of caregivers, Cyndi and Jim also founded a local in-person support group for patients and caregivers, and Cyndi recently wrote a book to help other caregivers, A Caregiver’s View from the Passenger Seat.

The winner of LUNGevity’s caregiver contest wins travel and a one-week stay for two at Cricket House in historic Gettysburg, Penn. Cricket House is owned by Debi Gemmell, who was also a caregiver for her husband, Chris. “LUNGevity recognizes the difficulty and hardships that lung cancer caregivers sometimes face and are thrilled to be able to partner with Debi to offer this prize to one incredible caregiver. We wish we could give every one of these hard-working and deserving caregivers and their loved ones a prize,” stated Katie Brown, Director of Support and Advocacy for LUNGevity Foundation.

LUNGevity Foundation has the largest grants award program for lung cancer research among lung cancer nonprofit organizations in the United States. As a thought leader and community hub, LUNGevity provides many resources to the lung cancer community, including the Lung Cancer Support Community, the largest dedicated social network providing support to anyone touched by lung cancer. As part of the online resources it offers, the Foundation recently unveiled the Caregiver Resource Center, at www.lungevity.org/caregiver, which offers emotional support, practical advice and patient advocacy advice, and other services for caregivers. It is the first online resource wholly devoted to lung cancer caregivers.

About LUNGevity Foundation

The mission of LUNGevity Foundation is to have a meaningful and immediate impact on improving lung cancer survival rates, ensure a higher quality of life for lung cancer patients, and provide a community for those impacted by lung cancer.

In order to accomplish our mission, LUNGevity funds the most promising research into the early detection and successful treatment of lung cancer. LUNGevity also supports the largest national grassroots lung cancer network, as well as the largest online support community for those affected by lung cancer.

The organization was recently awarded the coveted four-star charity ranking by Charity Navigator, American’s premier charity evaluator based on LUNGevity’s sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.

LUNGevity seeks to inspire the nation to commit to ending lung cancer.

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

About Cricket House

Cricket House is an award-winning historical property located in the heart of Downtown Gettysburg, PA, and consisting of two charming historic buildings, the Cricket Guest House and the Main House, which has recently opened the Cricket House Spa. For more information, please visit www.crickethousegettysburg.com.

Cyndi and Jim Siegfried

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Diagnosed With Lung Cancer at 24

June 28th, 2011 - by admin

by Heather Geraghty

On December 28, 2010 I was told that I had lung cancer.

It didn’t seem possible. I was only 24 years old! According to the surgeon, the tumor had been growing for years.

On January 20, 2011 I had two-thirds of my right lung removed. I had 23 of the longest days of my life knowingly living with cancer, and when it vanished from my body the shock of knowing still remained.

After surgery everyone who had surrounded themselves around me had returned to their daily routines, but I was still left wondering “how could this happen to me?” I thought to myself over and over again “What if I never found out? Would I still have lung cancer right now?” My lung cancer seemed to come and go so quickly from my life, and when it was gone I didn’t know what to do with myself. I felt alone, I couldn’t talk to anyone because nobody could relate to me. I felt scared, not only had I gone through painful surgery but I didn’t want the cancer to come back.

My friends didn’t understand which made it difficult to talk to them about any aspect of my cancer. During this time I was surprised to see faces of people, especially those who showed their concern. I was more surprised when I didn’t see the faces of people who I thought would be the most concerned. This was the first time in my life that I felt completely helpless. Simple tasks such as sitting up in bed, walking from one room to the next, and taking a deep breathe were significantly difficult after surgery. My mom and dad were the most impacting during my recovery, and still remain my biggest supporters to this day.

At times, even now, it is still difficult for me to admit to myself as well as aloud that I am a lung cancer survivor. Many days it doesn’t seem real, and I don’t believe that it has happened to me. Lung cancer has changed my whole perspective on life, which has forced me to refuse to take anything for granted.

My first check up is in August, the first of many to come in the next 2-3 years. And I am terrified to be told that the cancer has come back. Since experiencing lung cancer, I have been horrified to find that there is little known about this cancer, however, many stereotypes exist. Recently, I met someone who told me that “anyone who gets lung cancer did something to deserve it”. At first this made me angry, but then I felt defeated because I realized many people in society feel this way about lung cancer.

I hope to change this perspective with the support of an organization called LUNGevity.

The LUNGevity Foundation raises money and awareness for lung cancer research. I have found a family within this organization that has given me hopes for my future and the future of lung cancer. Since connecting with LUNGevity I have dedicated my time to organizing the 1stannual lung cancer fundraiser for LUNGevity at Café Fontana’s in Maple Shade on September 7, 2011 from 7pm-10pm.

The objective of this event is to confront, promote, and speak freely about the many faces of lung cancer in order to begin erasing the stigmas. Proceeds will benefit LUNGevity. Tickets are $50 – food, drinks, music, 50/50 cash raffle, Chinese auction, door prizes, and more!

To purchase tickets and for more information please visit: www.heathergeraghty.blogspot.com or call (609) 330-3617.

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My Dad is LIVING With Lung Cancer

June 14th, 2011 - by admin

by Andrea Scheff

My dad had a busy summer in 2006. Finally, after many years, he was building the pool he wanted, complete with an aqua shield dome over it so he can use it all year long.

Just for fun, he had a yearly chest xray in June, all was clear (or so we thought, turns out they missed a spot… oops).

In August, I was on bed rest after in-vitro. My dad was watching Channel 5 news and saw a segment on a non-surgical approach to enlarged prostate issues. He decided to see a new urologist.

As part of work up, the urologist ordered a pelvic and abdominal ct-scan.

Unexpectedly, a lung infiltrate showed up on the left lower lobe. My dad couldn’t have lung cancer, that was my mom’s job! He was her caretaker.

Things moved fast since we already had a medical team in place from my mom. Yup, my dad has lung cancer.  Shock can’t even describe it.

He underwent a wedge resection. Throughout the years little tumors popped up. Then by chance last year he was diagnosed with an indolent form of lymphoma. He is currently on Tarceva hoping to keep the beast at bay!

My dad’s motivation to keep going is his grandchildren, now age 4. They are truly the loves of his life.

And to answer the unasked, he quit smoking 30 years ago.

My dad is living proof that one can live with lung cancer!

There IS hope!

*BOTH of Andrea’s parents are lung cancer survivors.  Andrea is an advocate and long time member of LUNGevity’s Lung Cancer Support Community.

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Katie Brown

This Father’s Day There IS Hope

June 13th, 2011 - by Katie Brown

Being a young adult without parents is hard, but it isn’t rare, and unfortunately losing a parent to lung cancer isn’t uncommon.  Statistic s shows that one in two men and one in three women will have cancer in their lifetimes, and one in 14 of us will be diagnosed with lung cancer.  That’s just unacceptable to me and it’s time for our nation to care.

This Sunday will be another Father’s Day without my dad.  I was daddy’s little girl.  I wasn’t done with him.  I needed his advice and guidance and presence in my life.  I feel robbed and I miss him every day.

When he was first diagnosed with lung cancer, I had hope.

Before I learned about the disease I had hoped that it was caught early and that there would be successful treatment options.  I had hoped this was something our family would survive.  I had hoped he would live to be a gray-haired grandfather and enjoy retirement.  He didn’t make it.  He died a year before his 65th birthday.

In the eight years since he’s been gone there have been no improvements in his type of lung cancer and very limited progress made in other types of lung cancer.  Although lung cancer is the deadliest cancer killer, there is still no early detection test for the disease and very little funding compared to other cancers.  The 5 year survival rate is less than 15%.

Each Father’s Day I remember my dad. I wonder what we would be doing, what he would think of my kids, his grandchildren; the grandson who would now be taller than he was.  A granddaughter he didn’t know about, who was born four months after his death, and is now 7 years old!  I wonder how different our lives would be had lung cancer not entered it.  I wonder what it would have been like if he had a fighting chance against lung cancer?

Although my hope waned during my dad’s lung cancer journey, I never lost it, even after I lost my dad.  Hope lingered and grew little by little with each survivor I encountered.  With each connection I made to another patient and another caregiver, some hope would grow. 

Eventually targeted therapies and drugs like Iressa and Tarceva came onto the pipeline- and someone with a specific type of lung cancer who would have been in the 85% statistic would now not only LIVE with lung cancer, but achieve full remission!  That fuelled my hope!

I’ve been a lung cancer patient advocate for 8 years now and we still have a long way to go in terms of funding, treatments and compassion for those diagnosed with this disease.  There is still no early detection test; it’s still the #1 cancer killer and claims about 435 lives every single day.

But as another Father’s Day passes without my father, I actually have more hope than ever this year because of LUNGevity.

LUNGevity is the leading private funder for lung cancer research and has propelled support and advocacy for patients and their families to a whole new level. 

They have the largest lung cancer support network and grassroots network and a lung cancer summit  specifically to honor lung cancer survivors.

LUNGevity is creating HOPE.

It is my hope that one day no one loses a parent prematurely to a disease as devastating as lung cancer. 

It is my hope that people diagnosed with lung cancer will have a fighting chance.

I will be spending this Father’s Day thinking about my dad and about how much I miss him in our lives. I’ll be reflecting on how his lung cancer journey sparked compassion and a life’s mission within me and how his life and death have inspired so many others.

Happy Father’s Day, Daddy. 

I miss you like crazy! 

There is HOPE.

____________________

(last pic of me and my dad, Jessee Dewey)

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