Nashville Residents Join LUNG FORCE Walk to End Lung Cancer

NASHVILLE, TN (03/17/2015)(readMedia)-- More than 105,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with lung cancer in 2015, and nearly 72,000 of them will die from it within a year. Yet, only a tiny percentage of women realize lung cancer is a major risk.

"Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer of women in America, but alarmingly few women see lung cancer as a threat to them," said Gail Bost, Senior Director of Development and Special Projects for the American Lung Association in Tennessee, Nashville "What few people know is that lung cancer surpassed breast cancer as a cause of women's death in 1987."

According to the Lung Association's first Women's Lung Health Barometer, a survey of more than 1,000 American women, current awareness about the impact of lung cancer in women is extremely low. Even though lung cancer has long been the top cancer killer of women, the Barometer revealed that only 1 percent of women named the disease as a cancer that is top-of-mind for them. And anyone can get lung cancer – two-thirds of lung cancer cases are in those who have never smoked or have successfully quit smoking.

On May 16, the American Lung Association in Nashville will host its first LUNG FORCE Walk to support the new nationwide initiative against lung cancer and for lung health. LUNG FORCE is an effort to make lung cancer in women a public health priority, drive policy change and increase research funding. Lung cancer is the No. 1 cancer killer of both men and women in America.

"This has to change. This walk is an opportunity to rally our families, friends, neighbors and colleagues to raise our voices against lung cancer – and for lung health for everyone," Bost said.

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is signature sponsor of the LUNG FORCE Walk, which begins and ends at Public Square Park and follows a scenic course through Nashville, which crosses the Cumberland River twice.



The schedule for the LUNG FORCE WALK is:
8:30 a.m. – Check in
9:30 a.m. – Program begins
10 a.m. – Walk begins
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Concert and lunch

The American Lung Association in Tennessee, Nashville offers several resources for individuals and families that have been impacted by lung cancer. Anyone seeking help can visit www.lungforce.org or call the Lung Association's Lung Helpline at 1-800-LUNG-USA, which connects callers to information, resources and support services. Support is also available at our Facing Lung Cancer website (www.mylungcancersupport.org), a comprehensive education and support website developed specifically for patients and caregivers.

Posted Tuesday March 17, 2015 at 10:48 am by American Lung Association in Tennessee