Superstars Pilot a Guided Tour of the Biggest Cancer Killer for Women and Men in the USA

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Launching today, Lung Cancer Foundation of America's new website - http://www.lcfamerica.org/ - is a formidable novel tool for anyone facing lung cancer or seeking information about this disease, including patients, families, the medical community, the public at-large and the media. The centerpiece of the new website is a unique video guidebook for those diagnosed with lung cancer with segments led by the superstars of lung cancer research – an unparalleled group of the most prominent clinician researchers in the USA.  Like any quality guidebook, these videos and corresponding data are very short, informative and easy-to-understand, yet cover a tremendous amount of key, life-saving and state-of-the-art information about lung cancer.

"We hope that our new website will be like a lung cancer GPS for anyone facing this disease, helping them and their loved ones to navigate the tremendous challenges from the moment of diagnosis and on," said Kim Norris, the President of LCFA.

Beth Ida Stern, a top lung cancer advocate was also announced as the new Executive Director of the Foundation.  "LCFA is fortunate that Beth has agreed to lead the foundation during this phase of exciting growth.  Beth brings an intimate grasp of the complexities facing the lung cancer community and salient ideas about how to face them.  Her versatile background in business, research and advocacy will enrich LCFA, and her warm and collegial style of leadership and powerful work ethic will enhance the Foundation's mission to save lives by dramatically increasing the five-year survival rates for all stages of lung cancer," said Norris.

For more than 25 years, Beth Ida Stern has been a corporate executive, holding a B.A. from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Northwestern University. She began her career in for-profit organizations and made the transition to non-profit in 2007, when she became Executive Director of LUNGevity Foundation. Beth lost her aunt to lung cancer on Mother's Day 2006, and used her passion and business skills to drive LUNGevity to become the fastest growing charity in the United States.  In 2010, after guiding LUNGevity through a merger with Protect Your Lungs, Beth accepted a position as Senior Director of Development at City of Hope in Los Angeles, where she stewarded the organization's industry partners to record-breaking fundraising success. 

Lung cancer leads the USA in cancer deaths for women and men, yet remains the most under-funded and under-researched cancer, killing twice as many women as breast cancer, and three times as many men as prostate cancer annually.  With an overall 5-year survival rate of 15%, the prognosis for lung cancer has not changed in over 40 years.  Public and private funding for lung cancer mostly focuses on prevention. Early detection and treatment are equally critical, with an estimated 60% of new lung cancer diagnoses in non-smokers - a combination of 45-50% former smokers and people who have never smoked. 

About LCFA:

LCFA was established by two lung cancer survivors and a lung cancer widow, who all realized that the poor survival rate for lung cancer is a direct result of the lack of funding for lung cancer research.  Working with many of the top lung cancer researchers and clinicians in the USA, LCFA has seen how lung cancer researchers are trying diligently to unlock the secrets unique to lung cancer. They have also witnessed the inordinate amount of time researchers spend trying to secure money to pay for the research, which distracts them from their primary research function.  Lack of funding also discourages new researchers who, instead, gravitate to where the money is, leaving a potential gaping hole in future lung cancer research programs.  LCFA's mission is to save lives by dramatically increasing the five-year survival rates for all stages of lung cancer.  LCFA will accomplish this by providing the necessary and critical funding for creative and leading edge lung cancer research programs.  http://www.lcfamerica.org/.

Contact:  
Rachel Schwartz/PR AdvantEDGE, Inc. 
310.990.2764 
[email protected]

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SOURCE Lung Cancer Foundation of America