This column originally appeared at Times-Herald.com on Wednesday, November 20th, 2013 by Dr. Saeid Khansarina. Board certified in thoracic surgery, Piedmont Newnan Hospital’s Dr. Saeid Khansarinia has special interests in robotic surgery and thoracic oncology. A graduate of the University of California in San Diego, he received his medical degree from St. Louis University and completed his internship and residency in general, thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at the University of Florida. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. When you hear someone has lung cancer, what is the first thing you do? If you’re like the majority of people in the general population, you’ll ask the person who has been diagnosed with this deadly disease whether or not they have smoked. Contrary to the popular belief, lung cancer is not exclusive to smokers. While smoking certainly increases a person’s risk of developing lung cancer, it is not the only factor to consider. Lung cancer can affect just about anyone. In fact, studies show that the rate of lung cancer in younger, non-smoking women is actually on the rise.
The trouble is: medical experts aren’t sure why more non-smoking women are being diagnosed when the number of new lung cancer cases seems to have plateaued in men. Secondhand smoke and radon exposure can play a role in the development of lung cancer, but plenty of patients who have rarely been exposed can still have lung cancer, too. Early detection, the key to beating lung cancer, remains a challenge for healthcare providers because patients rarely present symptoms until it is too late. The common stereotype that lung cancer is a “smoker’s disease” continues to plague the ability to raise widespread awareness and fundraising efforts for the disease that is second only to heart disease as the largest killer in the United States. Those with known risk factors for lung cancer, including family history and people who have smoked for a long time, are encouraged to get screened and take advantage of Piedmont Newnan Hospital’s discounted, low-dose computed tomography (CT) lung cancer screenings. (For more information, visit piedmont.org/lung.) Lung cancer is responsible for claiming the lives of more people than colon, breast and prostate cancer combined. Yet, so few know about it or think it cannot affect them because they don’t smoke. This year, 159,480 Americans with lung cancer will die. Approximately 16,000 to 24,000 of these people who died never even smoked, according to the American Cancer Society. Symptoms can be as vague as coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, recurring lung infections and hoarseness. While screening mechanisms are still being developed for younger, non-smoking men and women, it is always important to pay attention to what your body is telling you about your health. If you notice symptoms such as those listed above, it is best to seek help from a medical expert.
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11/6/2013 The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation presents: "The Next Decade in Lung Cancer"Read Now The brightest minds in research, academics and advocacy unite at the Lung Cancer Living Room. Published on November 5, 2013 by The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation SAN CARLOS, CA, Nov. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF) is proud to present The Next Decade in Lung Cancer, a three-part series of the Lung Cancer Living Room, the nation's premiere live-streamed support group for patients, family and friends. "We are asking the big question. What will it take to make lung cancer a chronically managed disease in the next 10 years?" said Bonnie J. Addario, lung cancer survivor and founder of the ALCF. "The Next Decade in Lung Cancer offers a glimpse into the future from the perspective of researchers, advocates and most importantly patients." The three-part series will unite industry leaders in medicine, research and technology who will discuss the latest advancements and breakthroughs in lung cancer. Advocacy and policy agencies and foundations will also discuss access, information, education and needed legislative changes. The series, which will take place over the next three months, kicks off on November 10, 2013 at 2 p.m. (PST). Guests who attend the Living Room in-person will have the opportunity to network with other patients and with the guest speakers listed below. Online guests can also participate through the live stream, asking questions and sending comments via a live chat function. The session also airs at a later date locally on Peninsula TV. Guest Speakers:
The ALCF regularly hosts the Living Room on the third Tuesday of every month and the program is live-streamed online. It is the nation's premier lung cancer support group for lung cancer patients and their families, offering expert opinion and advice not found anywhere else. Visit www.ustream.com and select the Lung Cancer Living Room Support Group channel to see the video archive, including full length videos and 20-minute condensed highlighted versions, available the week after the group meets. The patient empowerment educational series is made possible through funding partners: Biodesix, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Genentech and The Safeway Foundation. About The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF) is one of the largest philanthropies (patient-founded, patient-focused, and patient-driven) devoted exclusively to eradicating Lung Cancer through research, early detection, education, and treatment. The Foundation works with a diverse group of physicians, organizations, industry partners, individuals, survivors, and their families to identify solutions and make timely and meaningful change. The ALCF was established on March 1, 2006 as a 501c(3) non-profit organization and has raised more than $10 million for lung cancer research and patient services. Read more here. 11/4/2013 Letter to the Editor: Pink Fades to White - Support for Lung Cancer research is LackingRead NowThis letter to the editor was originally published at MLive.com (Michigan Local News) on November 1st, 2013. by Tori Tomalia The pink-infused Breast Cancer Awareness month is drawing to a close, and I have to commend the marketing minds behind that phenomenon, because pink is everywhere. However, few people know that November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and sadly the support for lung cancer research is greatly lacking. Lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. Like many people, I thought little of lung cancer until just a few months ago. My journey started with a nagging cough, a series of chest colds that seemed to drag on for ages, and a return of my childhood asthma that did not improve despite several different prescriptions. Then, one afternoon in late May, I got the devastating news that I had lung cancer. As a healthy, non-smoking mother of a five-year-old and two-year-old twins, I could not fathom how this could be possible. It has spread to my spine, ribs, hip, and liver, making me Stage IV. The prognosis is not good. However, so far the chemo is working to shrink the tumors, buying me more time. For me, this extra time means that I got to see my son turn five, and attend his first day of kindergarten. I had the gift of watching my girls master the art of riding the tricycle. I went on picnics, movie dates with my husband, and family bowling trips, joys that I once took for granted. The hope for me lies is sticking around long enough for the next big medical breakthrough in lung cancer. I am hopeful that it is coming. You can help by giving a donation to one of these foundations that fund lung cancer research: Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation Lung Cancer Alliance, or Text LUNG to 27722 to Make a $10 Donation The next time you laugh with a friend, sigh at a sunset, or blow out a birthday candle, pause in honor of the lungs that let you do those things. And make sure others get the chance to take their next breath. Tori Tomalia Ann Arbor Follow Tori's journey through this diagnosis and treatment on her blog. |
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