LUNGevity launches first-of-its-kind lung cancer program to enhance clinical trial participation

WASHINGTON, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- LUNGevity's new Clinical Trial Ambassador program will match potential first-time lung cancer clinical trial participants with other lung cancer patients who have already been part of a clinical trial. The program is the first of its kind for lung cancer patients and was created to offer one-on-one mentoring to help patients considering trial participation by answering questions, providing an understanding of the clinical trial process, and framing questions to ask their doctors.

The number of clinical trials for lung cancer treatments has grown exponentially in recent years, giving patients new treatment options and resulting in new drug approvals. In 2015, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved more drugs than it had in the previous almost 15 years, with seven new treatments approved for lung cancer. Pharmaceutical and biotech company pipelines are robust with over 120 treatments in development for lung cancer, giving patients even more opportunities to access the latest research by participating in a clinical trial.

"The therapies approved in the last five years would not exist without successful clinical trial research. LUNGevity is proud to play a role in supporting both the patient experience and vital scientific progress by pairing potential lung cancer trial participants with those who have already undergone the process," said Andrea Ferris, president and chairman of LUNGevity Foundation. "Many people are fearful or uncertain about clinical trials because they know so little about them. LUNGevity's program aims to provide useful information that can answer their questions from a patient's perspective."

Support from donors makes it possible for LUNGevity to offer this service to lung cancer patients at no cost.

Learn more about the Clinical Trial Ambassador program at http://www.lungevity.org/clinical-trial-ambassadors.

LUNGevity invites lung cancer patients who would like to be matched with a mentor, or those who have experienced a clinical trial and are interested in serving as a mentor, to apply at http://www.lungevity.org/clinical-trial-ambassadors or call 312-407-6116.

About Lung Cancer

• 1 in 15 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer in their lifetime
• More than 221,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year
• About 60%-65% of all new lung cancer diagnoses are among people who have never smoked or are former smokers
• Lung cancer takes more lives than the next three leading cancers (colorectal, breast, and prostate) combined
• Only 17% of all people diagnosed with lung cancer will survive 5 years or more, BUT if it's caught before it spreads, the chance for 5-year survival improves dramatically

SOURCE LUNGevity Foundation

Related Links

http://www.lungevity.org