Lung Force Walk set Oct. 15 to support cancer patients, raise research funds

The American Lung Association in Delaware will host the 4th Annual Lung Force Walk to support lung cancer patients at 11 a.m., Sunday, Oct. 15, starting at the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand. Participants will also be able to enter their furry friends into a Cutest Dog Contest, enjoy prizes, raffles, a jazz fest and more. Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer of both women and men in America, and the American Lung Association's nationwide Lung Force initiative seeks to make lung cancer in women a public health priority, drive policy change and increase research funding.

"Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer of women in America, but alarmingly few women see lung cancer as a threat to them personally," said Deborah P. Brown, executive vice president of the American Lung Association of the Mid-Atlantic. "The reality is that anyone can get lung cancer, yet lung cancer has been in the shadows for decades. This simply must change. We invite everyone to join us and rally with friends, neighbors and colleagues to raise our voices together against lung cancer."

Lung cancer is drastically on the rise in women, yet according to the Lung Association's third annual Women's Lung Health Barometer, awareness about the impact of lung cancer in women is extremely low. Even though lung cancer has long been the No. 1 cancer killer of women, it is not a top-of-mind health concern for 98 percent of women.

In Delaware, approximately 850 women and men are diagnosed with lung cancer each year, and on average, fewer than half of all women with lung cancer will be alive one year after diagnosis. Since lung cancer has one of the lowest survival rates compared to other major cancers, early detection and treatment is key to saving lives. Locally and across the nation, Lung Force educates and empowers patients and healthcare providers, and also raises critical funds for research into better early detection methods and targeted treatments for lung cancer.

The American Lung Association in Delaware offers several resources for individuals and families who have been impacted by lung cancer. For more information, go to www.lungforce.org and www.lung.org/lung-cancer or call the toll-free Lung HelpLine at 1-800-LUNGUSA.