Lung Cancer Facts


LUNGevity Foundation is a 501©(3) organization.Since its inception in 2000 has committed to co-funding more than $5 million in innovative lung cancer research projects at the foremost cancer programs. LUNGevity partners with the American Cancer Society Illinois Chapter, American Lung Association, American Thoracic Society, Goldman Philanthropic Partnerships, and The CHEST Foundation (the philanthropic arm of the American College of Chest Physicians) to make its research awards.

LUNGevity Foundation is the premier grant-making nonprofit organization funding lung cancer research and providing support to people affected by lung cancer. LUNGevity was named the fastest growing charity in the United States in 2009 by Charity Navigator. It was also given a four-star rating for sound fiscal management in 2008, and named one of the top-ten fastest growing charities in both 2007 and 2008 by Charity Navigator.

The mission of LUNGevity Foundation is to save lives and to ease the burden of lung cancer on patients and their loved ones. In order to fulfill its mission, the Foundation funds the most promising, and innovative medical research into diagnosis, treatment, and cure of lung cancer as well as provides emotional support for lung cancer survivors and their loved ones by creating community.

  • Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States among every ethnic group... 1 in every 3 cancer deaths.

  • Lung cancer will kill:
    • More people than breast, prostate, colon, liver, kidney, and melanoma cancers... combined.
    • Over three times as many men as prostate cancer.
    • Nearly twice as many women as breast cancer.
    • An average of 437 people a day.

  • Over 60% of new cases are never smokers or former smokers, many of whom quit decades ago.

  • One in five women and one in twelve men diagnosed with lung cancer have never smoked.

  • Only 16% of lung cancer is being diagnosed at its earliest and most curable stage.

  • In 1971 President Richard Nixon officially declared the "War on Cancer". In the past four decades many cancers have seen their five- year survival rates increase as a direct result of research, treatments, screening and diagnosis tools. In 1971 lung cancer had a five year survival rate of only 13.2%. Forty years later, that five year survival rate remains at 15%.

  • Lung cancer continues to be the least funded in dollars per death of the four major cancers (breast, prostate, colon, lung).

  • In Massachusetts, more than 5,000 people have been diagnosed with lung cancer in the last year.

  • In the last year, over 3,600 people have died from lung cancer in Massachusetts alone.
    * Sources: 2009, American Cancer Society, Inc., Surveillance and Health Policy Research and The Lung Cancer Alliance

         
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