Moffitt Recognizes Lung Cancer Awareness Month
More people will die this year from lung cancer than breast, prostate and colon cancers combined. Moffitt Cancer Center is doing its part to fight this disease by launching an awareness and education initiative during the month of November. By focusing on specific issues such as advancements in treatment techniques and patient/family testimonials, Moffitt Cancer Center aims to help those in need of hope and direction.
NEWS FACTS
- According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 215,000 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer in 2008; this year alone, more than 161,800 will die from the disease.
- Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men and women, responsible for almost 30% of the total cancer deaths every year.
- Lung cancer is the second-most diagnosed cancer in both men and women.
- Since 1987, more women have died from lung cancer that from breast cancer.
- The one-year relative survival rate for lung cancer has slightly increased from 35% to 41% from 1979 to 2003.
- More than 60% of new lung cancer patients are non-smokers or former smokers who quit decades ago.
Sources: Moffitt Cancer Center; American Cancer Society
EXPERT QUOTE
"Doctors have really made the decision on what chemotherapy to give to a patient with lung cancer simply based on side effect profiles and convenience, but not really on which particular therapy is likely to have the best effect on the tumor. And molecular advances that have been made in the last several years now allow us to pick a therapy based on the molecular profile of a cancer rather than on convenience."
• Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D., an internationally known lung cancer researcher and division chief of the Lung Cancer Program at Moffitt Cancer Center
Bio
MULTIMEDIA
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Click here to watch the Moffitt Headline News video segment featuring Dr. Gerold Bepler.
- Click here to listen to the Radio News Release.
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About Moffitt Cancer Center
Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center - a designation that recognizes Moffitt's excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 15 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country’s leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer. Moffitt’s sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.
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