Lung cancer kills more people than prostate, colon and breast cancer combined – but it receives the least amount of funding for research.
November is National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and this year the National Lung Cancer Partnership says it’s hoping to double the survival rate for lung cancer patients by the year 2022.
More people who have never smoked are now being diagnosed with the disease, including 26,000 in the U.S. last year.
Advocates say that statistic is finally changing lung cancer’s so-called “underdog” status when it comes to awareness and funding.
Kent Lindsey is the co-founder of Jacksonville’s Lindsey Films Inc. and a lung cancer patient. A non-smoker, he was diagnosed with stage-three lung cancer last year.
Lindsey, Baptist Health oncology nurse and lung cancer advocate Bridgette Rossi, and Radiation oncologist Dr. Cynthia Anderson joined Melissa Ross to discuss the lung cancer funding, awareness, and survival.
Lung cancer symptoms:
- Blood in cough
- Recurring respiratory infections
- Enduring cough that is new or different
- Ache or pain in shoulder, back or chest
- Trouble breathing
- Hoarseness or wheezing
- Exhaustion or weakness
You can follow Melissa on Twitter @MelissainJax.
