DETROIT, Nov. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with lung cancer, or if you're a physician or medical personnel working with lung cancer patients, you won't want to miss the BREATHE 2007 Lung Cancer Medical and Advocacy Conference. The conference, co-presented by the American Lung Association of Michigan and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, will be held Friday, Nov. 30, at the Ritz-Carlton Dearborn. Medical and advocacy experts will present information and a survival panel will speak about their experience with lung cancer. The keynote speaker will be Deborah Morosini, MD, sister of the late Dana Reeve.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of all cancer deaths in the United States, more than breast, prostate and colon cancer combined. The estimated new cases of lung cancer in the United States for 2007 is 213,380, with the estimated deaths projected to be 160,390. About 70 percent of patients are diagnosed at a late stage and only 15 percent will be alive within five years.
Those at highest risk for developing lung cancer are tobacco users. Others who are exposed to secondhand smoke, asbestos, radon or other dangerous environmental elements are also at increased risk.
As Jennifer Jusco, age 56, of Rochester Hills, Michigan, will attest, you don't have to be a smoker to get lung cancer. In December 2002, Jennifer decided to get a physical exam. She was 51-years-old and felt it was time for a good check-up. She was seeing a new doctor.
"I passed the exam with flying colors," said Jennifer. "When the doctor asked if there were any other questions or concerns, I mentioned that I had this lingering cough but attributed it to allergies and getting older."
That's when Jennifer's doctor ordered a chest X-ray, which showed a
mass in her right lower lobe. Other than the irritating cough, Jennifer
doesn't remember any other symptoms except that from time to time she would
lose her breath.
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| SOURCE Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute Copyright©2007 PR Newswire. All rights reserved |