The Mesothelioma Community Celebrates the National Lung Cancer Partnership’s Ten-Year Anniversary

The National Lung Cancer Partnership, with a mission “to decrease deaths due to lung cancer and to help patients live longer and better through research, awareness and advocacy,” is celebrating its ten-year anniversary.  Since the partnership was formed, the organization has funded over $2.2 million in research for lung cancer projects.  Scientists searching for a cure for pleural mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer that is almost always caused by asbestos exposure, are beneficiaries of some of these research dollars.

Many of the Lung Cancer Partnership’s research dollars are offered to researchers “on the front lines of the effort to defeat lung cancer” through various grants.  Some of the nation’s premier mesothelioma research centers have received grants including Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the University of Pennsylvania.  Sunil Singhal, M.D., Thoracic Surgeon, Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania, who treats pleural diseases, including mesothelioma, was one of the recipients of the National Lung Cancer Partnership’s Young Investigator Research Grants.

During November, designated Lung Cancer Awareness Month, the National Lung Cancer Partnership will once again be focusing on educating the public about lung cancer.  Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer in the world, with approximately 220,000 Americans diagnosed with the cancer each year.

3,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year.  Both lung cancer and mesothelioma are very difficult to treat, often requiring surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.  Most mesothelioma patients die within one year of their diagnosis.

The Lung Cancer Partnership offers the “Free to Breathe” series of fitness events throughout the country as a way “to bring awareness of the disease to communities nationwide.” For a list of upcoming events see Free to Breathe.