Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation Honors Medtronic for Improving Diagnostic Tools for Lung Cancer

SAN CARLOS, Calif., Feb. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF) awarded Medtronic the "Simply the Best" award at the ALCF's tenth annual "Simply the Best" Gala for demonstrating commitment to reducing lung cancer morbidity by improving early diagnosis and setting the stage for personalized treatment.

The "Simply the Best" award is the highest honor the ALCF distributes, recognizing researchers, dedicated physicians and clinicians for their ongoing work fighting lung cancer. Heather Hudnut Page, Vice President of Global Marketing for Medtronic accepted the award in San Francisco on November 14, 2015.

"Lung cancer is the top cancer killer worldwide and patients' five-year survival rate remains a stagnant 16 percent," said Bonnie J. Addario, Stage IIIB lung cancer survivor and founder of the ALCF. "Medtronic is setting the stage for a new, personalized standard of care that improves outcomes for all patients by advancing the tools and technology available and setting the stage for earlier diagnosis, improved treatment and better long-term outcomes."

Medtronic recently launched GenCut, a core biopsy system to retrieve tissue specimens from the lungs during a biopsy. The tool is a minimally invasive diagnostic approach, ensuring undamaged tissue for proper diagnosis and further genetic testing and molecular analysis. Historically, lung cancer diagnosis occurs at a later stage due to a lack of symptoms, reducing the chance for patient's long-term survival. Medtronic's diagnostic products lay the foundation for advanced, personalized therapies and drugs for lung cancer patients.

Medtronic has worked in partnership with the ALCF on multiple initiatives, including national patient education and outreach with the ALCF's Patient Handbook and mobile application. Medtronic also collaborated with the ALCF on lung cancer community hospital Center of Excellence programs across the U.S.

"This is a critical yet exciting time for our team," said Page. "Working alongside providers, physicians and patients, we are identifying community programs that ensure patient centric care, advanced treatment and technology and genomic testing. We are honored to work alongside the ALCF in the continued fight to end lung cancer."

While the understanding of lung cancer's diagnosis and treatment has improved, additional work is still needed to advance the treatment options and survival statistics. Approximately 221,200 new lung cancer cases were diagnosed in the U.S. in 2015. Currently, lung cancer takes more lives than breast, prostate and colon cancers combined. It accounts for 27 percent of all cancer deaths and is the second leading cause of death in the U.S.

"We are committed to improving the standard of care and believe targeted therapy is the future of lung cancer treatment and the pathway to increasing the survival rate for all lung cancer patients," said Addario. "With the research and dedication of organizations such as Medtronic, we are on a strong path towards making lung cancer a manageable chronic disease by 2023."

For more information about the ALCF please visit www.lungcancerfoundation.org or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

About the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation
The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF) is one of the largest philanthropies (patient-founded, patient-focused, and patient-driven) devoted exclusively to eradicating Lung Cancer through research, early detection, education, and treatment. The Foundation's goal is to work with a diverse group of physicians, organizations, industry partners, individuals, patients, survivors, and their families to identify solutions and make timely and meaningful change and turn lung cancer into a chronically managed disease by 2023. The ALCF was established on March 1, 2006 as a 501c(3) non-profit organization and has raised nearly $25 million for lung cancer research and related programs.

About Medtronic
Medtronic plc (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is among the world's largest medical technology, services and solutions companies – alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world. Medtronic employs more than 85,000 people worldwide, serving physicians, hospitals and patients in more than 160 countries. The company is focused on collaborating with stakeholders around the world to take healthcare Further, Together.

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SOURCE Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation