Grey Power March 2017

18 NZ GREYPOWER MAGAZINE » MARCH 2017
Take a deep breath and read on…
SAYS PHILIP HOPE
Chief executive, The Lung Foundation New Zealand.
Email: philip.hope@lungfoundation.org.nz
Lungs are the only internal organs
that are constantly exposed to the
environment.
We breathe in and
out anywhere
from 15 to 25
times per minute without
even realising it.
We breathe so automatically
it is easy to take
our lungs for granted. In
fact research undertaken in
November 2013 found that
only 37 percent of adults
have ever talked to their
doctor about the health of
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50379
their lungs. Even among
smokers, only four out of
ten have talked to their
doctors about the health of
their lungs.
More than 700,000
New Zealanders are affected
by lung disease and
almost 12 deaths every day
are the result of lung disease.
The Lung Foundation
New Zealand was established
in 2015 and it is a
non-government organisation
dedicated to promoting
healthy lungs and early
detection of lung disease
(including lung cancer,
NZ's biggest cancer killer.
Five kiwis every day die of
lung cancer).
The Lung Foundation
is devoted to supporting
people affected by lung
disease and provides a
voice for patients and their
families. Lung Foundation
NZ advocates on a range
of issues, including access
to more effective funded
treatments, an increase
in research funding and
a commitment to making
Aotearoa a Smokefree nation
by 2025.
We are a registered
charity (CC50985) and reliant
on support from fundraising
events, donations
and bequests.
Our Vision
That New Zealanders
will know how to keep their
lungs healthy and they investigate
symptoms of lung
disease earlier in response
to our advocacy.
Our Mission
To ensure lung health is
a priority for all New Zealanders.
Our Primary Goals are to:
- Promote Lung Health
- Promote Early Diagnosis
of Lung Disease
- Reduce Lung Cancer
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Deaths
Today we take a look at
pneumococcal pneumonia
and lung cancer.
Pneumococcal Pneumonia
1 in 10 New Zealanders
are at risk of pneumonia
simply due to their age.
People over the age of 65
face increased risk of infection
due to age-related
decline of the immune system.
Pneumococcal disease,
which includes pneumococcal
pneumonia, refers to
a group of illnesses caused
by the bacteria Streptococcus.
Common symptoms of
pneumococcal pneumonia
include high fever, excessive
sweating and shaking
chills, coughing, difficulty
breathing, shortness of
breath and chest pain.
Risk factors for pneumococcal
pneumonia include
diabetes, asthma,
chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD),
and a suppressed immune
system. Smoking can also
increase risk.
Vaccination can help to
protect against some forms
of pneumococcal pneumonia.
Pneumococcal pneumonia
can strike anywhere
and anytime so talk to your
doctor about ways to minimise
the risk.
Lung Cancer Facts
Lung cancer is New
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Zealand’s largest cancer
killer and has been since
1968. More than 1600 kiwis
die from lung cancer
every year (almost five Kiwis
every day). In fact more
people die of lung cancer,
than of breast cancer, prostate
cancer and melanoma
combined.
Lung Cancer Symptoms
Symptoms can be different
in each person, but
may include:
- A cough that doesn’t
go away and gets worse
over time
- A sore or a “rough feeling”
throat
- Constant chest pain
- Shortness of breath or
wheezing
- Lots of lung infections
such as bronchitis or
pneumonia
- Coughing up blood.
Some symptoms do not
appear until the cancer has
spread to other parts of
the body. These symptoms
may include:
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite (not being
hungry)
- Headaches
- Bone pain or fractures
- Blood clots
If you think you are at
risk for lung cancer or if
you have any symptoms,
talk to your doctor about
tests to see if you have lung
cancer.
Lung Cancer Patient
Resources
Lung Foundation NZ
recently launched twelve
individual lung cancer patient
resources to empower
patients and carers and
help them make informed
treatment decisions.
The resources can be
found on our website -
http://lungfoundation.
org.nz/resources
Advocacy
Lung Foundation NZ
continues to highlight the
inequalities that exist for
lung cancer patients and
their families. Our main
advocacy priorities include;
- Boosting awareness
of lung cancer and addressing
the stigma that
is wrongly associated
with lung cancer.
- Early detection and improving
access for lung
cancer patients to more
effective treatments (including
access to clinical
trials).
- Improving access to
psychosocial support
for lung cancer patients
throughout their journey
and facilitating peer
support.
- Increase in research
dedicated to lung cancer
HELP US!
Please help us provide a
voice for patients, and inform
public policy by supporting
our advocacy position
on our website www.
lungfoundation.org.nz and
connect with us on Facebook
- fb.me/LungFoundationNZ
P O Box 1425, Waikato Mail Centre, Hamilton
3240
Or email to mike@wbn.co.nz with Grandmas
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