Advocating to Defeat Lung Cancer

Despite advances in early detection and treatments options, lung cancer remains the leading cancer killer of women and men in the U.S. Only 18 percent of those with lung cancer are diagnosed at an early stage when it is more likely to be curable.

The American Lung Association works tirelessly through its LUNG FORCE initiative to raise awareness of lung cancer because more must be done to save lives. On March 14, the American Lung Association and LUNG FORCE Heroes – lung cancer patients and their loved ones – from nearly all 50 states came to Washington, D.C., and visited with their members of Congress.

Advocating for increased research funding

Together, they asked Congress to support federal funding increases for the National Institutes of Health and shared why we must protect patients with pre-existing conditions, including lung cancer. Thanks to the ongoing work of LUNG FORCE Heroes and supporters, Congress recently approved an additional $3 billion for the National Institutes of Health for fiscal year 2018.

Visit LUNG FORCE’s Advocacy Day page, and learn how you can contact your members of Congress today. You can also view a replay of our lung cancer research panel, which featured Jorge Gomez, M.D., of Mount Sinai Health System.