Every two minutes, someone is diagnosed with lung cancer.

 

No one deserves lung cancer.  And, you do not have to smoke to get it.

 

Lung cancer kills more people than breast, prostate, colon, liver, kidney,

and melanoma cancers...combined.

 

Each year in the United States, lung cancer in never-smokers

kills more people than AIDS.

 

Yet, it receives a mere fraction of the attention and research funding.

 

 

 

• Lung cancer is the #1 Cancer Killer in the World

• EVERY TWO MINUTES, someone in the world is diagnosed.

• Lung cancer is responsible for 30% of all cancer deaths.

• EVERY THREE MINUTES, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed.

• In 2009, approx. 220,000 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer.
• 160,000 will die of it.

• Lung cancer kills more people than breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, melanoma, and kidney cancer ... COMBINED.

• It kills nearly THREE TIMES as many men as prostate cancer.

• It kills nearly TWICE as many women as breast cancer.

• Surpassed breast cancer as the #1 cancer killer of women in 1987.

• In 2009, an estimated 40,730 women will die of breast cancer & the most recent Komen Race for the Cure in ATL had 13,600 participants.

• In 2009, and estimated 70,500 WOMEN will die of lung cancer - yet, the most recent Atlanta Lung Cancer Awareness Run and Walk had LESS THAN 1,000 PARTICIPANTS.

• 60% of new cases are diagnosed in former smokers and those who have NEVER touched a cigarette in their lives AND THIS NUMBER IS RISING.

• Right now, the focus on lung cancer – from the American Cancer Society to the Federal Government to other public health organizations to the general public – has been on smoking prevention and cessation.

• This is EXTREMELY important.

• The best way to reduce your risk of lung cancer is to NEVER START SMOKING and to QUIT if you do smoke

•  HOWEVER, if everyone quit smoking today, lung cancer would STILL be a public health issue for at least thirty or forty years.

• Lung cancer in NEVER-smokers is still the SIXTH LARGEST cancer killer in the world.

• Nonsmoking-related causes of lung cancer include:

• Air pollution - as high a cancer risk as living with a smoker.

• Radon - the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer, after tobacco smoke

• Exposure to asbestos, uranium, arsenic, diesel fuel and other carcinogens.

Screening & Diagnosis Are Major Challenges.

• In its early stages, lung cancer is often symptomless.

• Symptoms can include persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, hoarseness, recurrent pneumonia & bronchitis, fatigue, and weight loss.

• Lung cancer does not respond to most existing therapies

3 out of 5 patients diagnosed with lung cancer

will die within 12 months.

• The five-year survival rate of lung cancer is only 15%.

• Breast cancer has a 87% five-year survival rate.

• Prostate cancer's five-year survival rate is 99%.