Department of Thoracic Surgery

Cancer is one of the most complicated and misunderstood families of diseases. While we are exposed to an overwhelming amount of cancer information, it is difficult to know what is credible.

As a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center committed to community education, the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center is pleased to present a year-long series of free educational public seminars to discuss some of the most timely and important cancer-related issues.

Seminars will be lead by physician-scientists and other health experts. Topics will include common forms of cancer like colon, skin, breast and prostate as well as information on prevention, early detection, spirituality and nutrition. Conveniently scheduled right after business hours (5:30 p.m.), the seminars will last one hour including time for refreshments and question and answers.

Whether you join us for one evening or the entire series, these informal gatherings will help you make informed decisions about your health and the health of your family.

For more information, call (615) 936-5855 or visit the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center website.

Cancer Support Groups

Patient Advocates

Debra Wymer

Advocate/family member

(256) 650-5855

Tami Dobbins

Advocate/family member

(859) 273-7497

Lori Monroe

Survivor of stage IV Lung Cancer

(270) 746-5935

Additional Information Available

Please contact

Lori Monroe

(270) 746-5935 to obtain:

One Hundred Questions About Lung Cancer written by Joan Schiller, founder of  National Lung Cancer Partnership.

The Cancer Survivor's Toolbox CD's

Frankly Speaking About Lung Cancer available from Eli Lilly.

With Every Breath: A Lung Cancer Guidebook written by Tina M. St. John, M.D. It is possibly the best and most complete book available on-line regarding Lung Cancer.

Please contact Lori Monroe (270) 746-5935 to obtain:

Lung Cancer Alliance

The Lung Cancer Alliance is the only national non-profit organization dedicated solely to advocating for people living with lung cancer or those at risk for the disease. Our initiatives aim to educate public policy leaders of the need for greater resources for lung cancer research while changing the face of lung cancer and reducing the stigma associated with the disease. We offer unique patient education and support programs focused on helping people directly affected by lung cancer.

Our programs include the Lung Cancer Hotline, a toll-free information and referral service for people with lung cancer and their caregivers, the Phone Buddy program, a peer-to-peer support network, Lung Cancer Awareness Month, a national education and advocacy campaign, Spirit & Breath, our quarterly newsletter, and Advocacy Alert, where advocates can receive alerts to participate in or respond to important lung cancer issues.

Our Goal
To eradicate lung cancer.

Our Commitments
We are committed to the following actions and initiatives and will:

• Work with Congress and federal agencies to achieve this goal.
• Help lung cancer patients, survivors, their families and caregivers become active participants in achieving this goal. Launch a national public awareness campaign to change the face of lung cancer and to reduce the stigma associated with the disease.
• Educate public policy leaders of the need for greater resources for lung cancer research.
• Develop grassroots programs that bring volunteers and partners together to achieve coordinated campaigns for action on vital lung cancer issues.
• Ensure that Lung Cancer Alliance has a “seat at the table” where it counts, to ensure that policy decisions and resource allocations are being made with the lung cancer patient’s interests in mind.
• Continue to be the ultimate and most credible source of information about lung cancer.
• Provide patient education and support for lung cancer patients and their loved ones through our Phone Buddy, Spirit & Breath, Lung Cancer Hotline, and Lung Cancer Awareness Month programs.

Together we will work to make significant progress in lung cancer.

NO MORE EXCUSES.
NO MORE LUNG CANCER.

Phone: 202-463-2080
Lung Cancer Hotline: 800-298-2436
Email: info@lungcanceralliance.org

Send donations or payments to:
The Lung Cancer Alliance
Unit 78
P.O. Box 4800
Portland, OR 97208-4800

All other correspondence to:
The Lung Cancer Alliance
888 16th Street, NW
Suite 800
Washington , D.C. 20006

Lung Cancer Advocacy Group Announces New Strategic Direction

New Orleans, LA June 5, 2004 —To better serve lung cancer patients and those at risk for the disease, the Alliance for Lung Cancer Advocacy, Support, and Education (ALCASE), is embracing a new strategic direction, which includes moving its headquarters to Washington D.C.

ALCASE is the only national organization dedicated exclusively to lung cancer advocacy. Following a recent independent review of its mission, operations, and services to patients, the Board decided on several key changes aimed at strengthening ALCASE's visibility and increasing its ability to influence key decision makers.

"We are at a critical moment to create significant progress in lung cancer detection, treatment and patient support," says Randolph Urmston, current president of the board of ALCASE and a lung cancer survivor. "We needed to change at this critical time, when increased attention is being paid to women's health, including lung cancer, and new treatments for the disease are on the horizon."

Lung cancer remains the nation's leading cause of cancer death for both men and women, killing more people than breast, prostate, colon and pancreas cancers combined. Yet funding for national lung cancer research is far below the levels for these other malignancies. ALCASE plans new initiatives to address and call attention to this disparity.

Those initiatives include:

• Advocate for increased public funding of lung cancer research
• Become the leading source for information on lung cancer
• Advocate for evidence-based, high-quality screening for lung cancer
• Provide patient education and support for lung cancer patients and their families
• Advocate for access to screening, diagnosis, treatment and support

During the transition ALCASE will continue to provide important support services for lung cancer patients and their families from its current headquarters in Vancouver, Washington. Over the next six to twelve months, these activities will be moved to Washington D.C. and the office in Vancouver will close.

In addition to these initiatives, ALCASE is also recruiting an executive director to lead restructuring and relocation; restructuring its Board of Directors to broaden representation; creating an Emeritus Advisory Board; and renaming the organization to better reflect its mission.

For further information on ALCASE, its new direction and relocation please contact: Jane Reese-Coulbourne at: 703.465.2350 (office), or 703.850.2890 (cell), or via email at: jane.rc@verizon.net

National Lung Cancer Partnership

National Lung Cancer Partnership  needs your help in reducing deaths due to lung cancer, and increasing awareness that this disease claims more of our mothers, sisters and daughters than any other cancer in the US.

As you know, lung cancer is seriously under-funded at the Federal level in relation to other common cancers and diseases.  We will be working actively to change this with events in Washington, DC, and meetings with Congressional leaders.  However, we recognize that change is slow, so we will also be launching two programs to drive research in lung cancer forward: A Research Grant for the study of sex differences in lung cancer, and a Career Development Award to increase the chances that young investigators will stay in the lung cancer field.  Your contributions can help ensure the success of these programs.
 
During this past year, National Lung Cancer Partnership has made major strides in increasing awareness that lung cancer is the top cancer killer of women and men in this country. Through press releases and interviews with the media, and scientific conferences, we have made sure that the word is getting out that lung cancer is an epidemic among women, and often affects women and men differently.  We have updated and expanded our website at www.4walc.org to include more information about lung cancer, who is at risk for and affected by this disease, and ways you can help to fight it in your communities.
 
While these programs help to increase the knowledge of lung cancer as a women’s health issue, there is more work to be done.  We need your help to sustain our mission and continue to deliver high-quality services to our constituents and the public.  Please consider making a year-end investment in National Lung Cancer Partnership so that we can continue our current programs and ensure the success of our new ones in 2005.  You have the power to help fight lung cancer!

Contributions can be mailed to us directly at PO Box 5589, Madison, WI  53705, or if you are making a donation by credit card, you may fax information to us at (608) 233-7893.  Membership and Commemoration forms are attached to this email for your convenience.  National Lung Cancer Partnership is a 501(c)(3) organization and your gifts to us are tax-deductible.
 
Best wishes for a New Year filled with hope and peace. 

Regina Vidaver, Ph.D.
Executive Director
National Lung Cancer Partnership
P.O. Box 5589
Madison, WI  53705
(608)233-7905
Fax: (608)233-7893
regina@4walc.org
www.4walc.org