Lung Cancer Alliance Offers Condolences to Paterno Family

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Lung Cancer Alliance (LAC) offers condolences to the family of legendary Penn State University coach Joseph Paterno who died of lung cancer this morning.

His death came just a few weeks after being diagnosed with a late stage, untreatable form of the disease.

Lung Cancer Alliance President Laurie Fenton-Ambrose said: "So many patients have faced this, so many families have been hurt by this disease which is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States and the world."

The overall 5-year survival rate for those diagnosed with lung cancer is still only 15%, and less than 4% for those with late stage lung cancer.

"And just as sadly this is the only cancer that continues to be blamed on the patient," she said, pointing out that four out of five new cases are people who never smoked or who had already quit smoking, often decades ago.

"It is time - it is long overdue - that we take a more compassionate and comprehensive approach to this disease, give people at high risk the benefit of CT screening and give priority attention to improving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all types of lung cancer," she said.

Lung Cancer Alliance provides support and advocacy for those living with or at risk for lung cancer.  LCA is committed to reversing decades of stigma and neglect by empowering those with or at risk for lung cancer, elevating awareness and changing health policy at both the federal and state level. For more information visit: www.lungcanceralliance.org. 

Follow Lung Cancer Alliance on Facebook: www.facebook.com/lungcanceralliance.   

Media Contact:
Kay Cofrancesco
[email protected]
302-521-5716

SOURCE Lung Cancer Alliance

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED