Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the U.S. The startling truth is that anyone can get lung cancer, and every 8 minutes a woman loses her life to the disease. This begs the question: why is lung cancer so deadly, and what can we do to save more lives?
Part of the answer lies in the fact that currently, the majority (77%) of lung cancer cases among women are diagnosed at later stages, when treatment options are limited. Early detection and treatment of lung cancer translates to much higher survival rates (5 times higher in fact), however only 18 percent of lung cancer cases among women are diagnosed early.
Greater awareness about the disease and screening options can save lives, yet nearly all women (98%) don’t even have lung cancer on their health radar. That’s why the American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE initiative is bringing lung cancer into the spotlight, and uniting women and their loved ones across the country to stand together against lung cancer.
Through our new social campaign, #ShowYourLUNGFORCE, we are asking supporters to demonstrate the power of their lungs and help amplify awareness of lung cancer to their family and friends. It can be as simple as singing, whistling, blowing a kiss, beatboxing, or holding your breath. You can help by uploading a video or photo to your social media pages – Facebook, Twitter or Instagram – demonstrating how you Show Your LUNG FORCE, using the hashtag #ShowYourLUNGFORCE.
We encourage you to tag three of your friends and challenge them to do the same. Donations can be made directly to the LUNG FORCE Facebook page or at LUNGFORCE.org, and best of all, proceeds will go toward lung cancer research, awareness and prevention.
This May, we are pleased to have Adam Klein, winner of the 33rd season of CBS’ Survivor join us in the fight against lung cancer. After spending 39 days on the island of Fiji competing to win Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X in 2016, Adam returned home to be with his mother who had been battling lung cancer. Sadly, just one hour after he returned, Adam’s mother lost her battle with lung cancer.
We are inspired each day by the stories of LUNG FORCE Heroes like Adam, because we know that it is important to change people’s minds about what it means to have lung cancer—so that everyone understands their risks. Through increased education, we can expand our impact and ensure that individuals are talking to their doctors about their risk for lung cancer – thereby increasing the number of high-risk people being screened and resulting in earlier detection and higher survival rates.
While anyone can get lung cancer, smoking is the leading risk factor for lung cancer. Other lesser-known risk factors for lung cancer include radon, air pollution and secondhand smoke exposure. For the fourth year in a row, CVS Health is rallying support for LUNG FORCE through an in-store fundraising campaign and encouraging customers to visit Lung.org/CVS for easy ways to help their communities become tobacco-free which is key to making a difference against lung cancer. The in-store fundraising campaign is part of Be The First, a five-year, $50 million initiative funded through CVS Health and the CVS Health Foundation to help deliver the nation’s first tobacco-free generation.
Join the movement by visiting CVS Pharmacy locations now through May 27 to make a $1, $3 or larger donation at the register to raise funds for lung cancer awareness, research and education, and visit Lung.org/CVS and see how you can create tobacco-free communities to help beat lung cancer.
We thank you for your generous support, and know that through your contributions, we will be able to pursue the next generation of lung cancer treatment and early detection breakthroughs as well as empowering the next generation of Americans to be the first tobacco-free generation.