New Hope for Lung Cancer

February 25, 2009

Could it be time to be hopeful for lung cancer research?

A couple of weeks ago, I traveled to Dallas to meet with other groups interested in lung cancer networking. We talked about how we can create a movement and link arms, all of us working together through our various organizations to promote all advocacy issues regarding lung cancer. I came away feeling that we were on the brink of something much bigger.

Earlier this week, there was another meeting. This one was close to Washington DC. I wasn’t able to attend due to health issues, However, I’ve spoke with others who were there. This meeting was with the DOD– Department of Defense and they have finally set aside money for lung cancer research. $20 million dollars to be exact!! The DOD has funded breast cancer research since 1991 and when they first started funding breast cancer they started with $25 million. For 2009, the DOD has set aside $150 million for breast cancer research and have spent over 2 billion dollars in total over the years. Now, they are willing to do the same for lung cancer!

Imagine what could be done for lung cancer with that kind of money! Imagine of all the lives that could be saved!!

Imagine if we could also raise that amount of money through our Foundation. We can. All it will take is one million people to give $20 dollars each, or half a million people to give $40.00. What if one million people gave $20 every month? Imagine what would happen, how much we could learn and the treatments we could develop or the tools we could find to discover lung cancer at its earliest stages!

Yes, I’m hopeful. Because I know it’s possible. We can do this. We all can be part of this movement. It can and will happen and lung cancer will change to a disease that was once upon a time a deadly disease, but with research funding it will change to a treatable disease.

It’s time for NEW HOPE!!!