November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month: Help save lungs, lives

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Nov 13, 2017 | Tony Hart | @TonyHart87

Mayo Clinic Champion Linda Wortman is using Lung Cancer Awareness Month to save lungs and lives. With walk and runs, a new lung health app, and a balloon inflating challenge, Wortman is setting out to gather supporters and educate people about lung cancer.

According to the Wortman Lung Cancer Foundation website, lung cancer kills more women and men annually than colon, breast and prostate cancers combined. Every 2.5 minutes, another person is diagnosed with lung cancer. And, while many people believe that lung cancer is a smoker’s disease, 40 percent of people with lung cancer are nonsmokers and 20 percent never smoked.

Spread the Word: November #MonthlyMission - Lung Cancer Awareness Month

This November, you can get involved in several ways:

• Share lung cancer information on social media:
  • "Infographic: Lung cancer screening"
  • "Aspirin’s role in preventing and stopping the spread of cancer"
  • "Blood-based lung cancer test shows promise"
• Register for a walk-run event to help raise funds for lung cancer research, including an event in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Sunday, Nov. 19
• Participate in the First2Burst Lung Challenge to raise awareness about lung cancer:
  • Check your lung power by blowing up a balloon to make it burst, or use the MyBreath iOS App and test your lung capacity.
  • Challenge your friends and share your video to raise awareness about the need for research for lung cancer. Here’s how it works.

Learn more about Wortman Lung Cancer Foundation and Wortman

Wortman, lung cancer survivor, says she was compelled to start her own foundation to raise awareness and remove the stigma that lung cancer is only a smoker’s disease. She has organized runs around the world, shared her story across the country, and climbed mountains. Wortman’s tireless efforts on behalf of lung cancer patients, survivors, and their family and friends are making a difference as she raises money for lung cancer research. Her foundation is supporting a Longitudinal Healthy Lungs Research Project in partnership with Bruce D. Johnson, Ph.D., a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic. Anyone can participate in the research project ─ virtually or in person. Sign up on the Wortman Lung Cancer Foundation website.

Learn more about Wortman’s story.