Fact Sheet - LUNGevity Foundation

Fact Sheet
About LUNGevity Foundation
The mission of LUNGevity Foundation is to have a meaningful impact on improving lung cancer
survival rates, ensure a higher quality of life for lung cancer patients, and provide a community
for those impacted by lung cancer.
The goal is to create the same successful improvements for lung cancer mortality rates as those
experienced by the breast, prostate, and colon cancer communities, as well as to elevate lung
cancer on the national agenda.
In order to accomplish our mission, LUNGevity funds the most promising research into early
detection and successful treatment of lung cancer. LUNGevity also supports the largest online
support community for those affected by lung cancer, as well as the largest national grassroots
lung cancer network.
LUNGevity was founded in 2001 by seven lung cancer survivors, and tens of thousands of others
affected by lung cancer have joined in the years since. We will continue to build on that
dedication and momentum to inspire the nation to commit to ending lung cancer.
Funding Research into Earlier Diagnosis and More Effective Treatment
LUNGevity Foundation has the largest grants award program for lung cancer research among
lung cancer nonprofit organizations in the United States. In 2011 alone, LUNGevity awarded over
$2 million to fund nine of the most promising lung cancer research projects in the areas of
early detection and targeted therapeutics.
The Foundation funds lung cancer research through a peer-reviewed grant process. Its
world class Scientific Advisory Board meets annually to discuss research strategy, share new
scientific developments, oversee ongoing funded projects, review grant proposals, and
determine funding of new grants. LUNGevity issues requests for grant applicants each year in
the areas of early detection of lung cancer and for therapeutic agents that are effective in all
stages of the disease.
Support, Education and Advocacy Resources
As a thought leader and community hub, LUNGevity also provides many resources directly to
the lung cancer community, including the Lung Cancer Support Community (LCSC), the
largest dedicated social network offering support to anyone touched by lung cancer. Created in
2002, LCSC provides users with an extensive message board for peer-to-peer support, the latest
lung cancer information, 24-hour support, live chat, a telephone buddy program (LUNGevity
LifeLine), ASK THE EXPERTS, and notice of upcoming lung cancer events and advocacy

opportunities. For those interested in taking action to raise awareness about lung cancer and
LUNGevity, we offer LUNGevity Link UP!
As part of the online resources it offers, the Foundation also recently unveiled the Caregiver
Resource Center, which offers emotional support, practical and patient advocacy advice, and
other services for caregivers. It is the first online resource wholly devoted to lung cancer
caregivers.
Events Across the Country
LUNGevity has the largest national network of grassroots events aimed at raising money for
life saving lung cancer research and creating awareness about the disease. Dedicated and
passionate volunteers from across the country plan local fundraising events to help LUNGevity
fund its research program into earlier detection and more effective treatment of lung cancer,
bringing together tens of thousands of lung cancer patients, survivors, families, friends, and
advocates in 19 states and counting to change the course of lung cancer.
Facts About Lung Cancer
• 1 in 14 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with lung cancer in their lifetime 1
• 226,000 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer in 2012 1
• Approximately 55% of all new lung cancer diagnoses are among people who have
never smoked or have already quit smoking 2,3
• Because there is no widely-available, effective early diagnostic test for lung
cancer, only 15% of people will be diagnosed in the earliest stage, when the
disease is most treatable 1
• Only 16% of all people diagnosed with lung cancer will survive 5 years or more 4
• Lung cancer kills more people than the next four cancers (breast, prostate,
colorectal and pancreatic) combined 1
• Lung cancer kills almost twice as many women as breast cancer, and more than three
times as many men as prostate cancer 1
• There is hope: The 1-year survival rate for lung cancer increased from 37% in
1975-1979 to 43% in 2003-2006, mostly thanks to improvements in treatment 1
• If lung cancer is caught before it spreads, the chance for 5-year survival improves
to 52% 4
Sources: 1 Cancer Facts & Figures 2012. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2012. 2 Thun, MJ, et
al. Lung Cancer Occurrence in Never-Smokers: An Analysis of 13 Cohorts and 22 Cancer
Registry Studies. PLOS Medicine, 2008. 5(9): e185. Doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0050185; 3 Tong, L,
et al. Lung carcinoma in former smokers. Cancer,1996. 78(5): 1004-1010. 4 Howlader N, Krapcho
M, Neyman N, et al. (eds). SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2008, National Cancer Institute,
Bethesda, MD, www.seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2008/, 2011