Dear Lung Cancer Community,
As we dive into 2019 and further our efforts to advance new life-saving research and treatments for the lung cancer community, we want to take a moment to say thank you and reflect on what we accomplished together in 2018.
- Distributed over 90,000 pieces of patient-facing educational materials on diagnosis, treatment and support services to healthcare facilities across the country.
- Informed more than 420,000 website visitors with information and resources on risk, early detection, treatment, research and ways to get involved.
- Connected directly with nearly 2,000 lung cancer patients and loved ones through our Helpline and email to offer support and guidance at every step of their journey.
- Continued addressing the widespread racial and socioeconomic disparities with regard to lung cancer in Alabama and the Deep South by partnering with the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham on a three year grant initiative referred to as ALCASE.
- Launched LCA’s first multi-site clinical trial (CASTL) through our Screening Centers of Excellence network. Five sites are open, but all 18 are expected to open this year.
- Replicated LCA’s 2008 National Stigma Survey to examine the perspectives of patients, oncologists and the general public on lung cancer. Results showed that awareness is up but stigma is a continuing and growing problem.
- Urged individuals at risk for lung cancer to talk with their doctor about screening through a nationwide digital and social media campaign—“What About Your Lungs?” and patient-facing video messages in doctor’s offices in Florida and Georgia.
- Sustained $14 million in federal funding for lung cancer research in fiscal year 2019 appropriations, increasing the total amount to $141.5M for the Lung Cancer Research Program within Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).
- Connected 10,550 people in 164 healthcare facilities across 39 states to celebrate the 10th Annual Shine a Light on Lung Cancer during Lung Cancer Awareness Month.
- Re-introduced the Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act of 2018 in both the House and the Senate and rallied advocate community around the cause with 3,931 advocates contacting Congress asking for their support.
- Convened 120 attendees from 30+ states to take part in 150+ meetings to educate Congress at the 10th Anniversary National Advocacy Summit.
- Encouraged more than 2,900 advocates to demonstrate their support for the lung cancer community by participating and hosting walk/runs and Shine a Light Your Way fundraisers across the country.
- Educated influential academics, journalists and activists on the lung cancer crisis at events such as Atlantic Live, Washington Post: Chasing Cancer, the National Lung Cancer Roundtable and the World Conference on Lung Cancer.
We can’t wait to see what 2019 has in store for the community. Keep up the hard work! Together we are making a difference.
Sincerely,
Laurie Fenton Ambrose
President & CEO
Lung Cancer Alliance
Leave A Comment