LaurenH

Hi, PeggieH, Welcome to LCSC. We are glad that you've joined this online support community. This is a great place to connect with other patients/survivors and get to know caregivers and advocates whose lives have also been affected by lung cancer. Please feel free to join some of the conversations in the discussion threads or ask questions. There are many very knowledgeable members on this site who have a lot of experience. I am also happy to help you find additional resources and support. Feel free to post on this thread or message me directly with any questions/concerns about how to use this forum! With gratitude, Lauren -- Digital Community Manager LUNGevity Foundation

Hi, Sydney, Welcome to LCSC! Thank you for sharing your story. You seem like an incredibly determined, knowledgeable, and positive person. I'm happy to see that you've jumped right into the discussion forums. I work for LUNGevity as the Digital Community Manager and as an advocate for my uncle who has Stage IV ALK (he was diagnosed in September 2011 and has had very positive results with both crizotinib and alectinib). LUNGevity has an ALK group on Facebook where you can connect with other people who have the ALK mutation. I will also reach out to some of our members who have ALK and ask them to respond to your questions in this thread. Since you're in the DC area, if you're interested, we have a national lung cancer survivorship conference coming up at the end of April called HOPE Summit. Several LCSC members are HOPE Summit alumni and many will be joining us this year. I am happy to provide you with more information. Please feel free to message me with additional questions about HOPE Summit or LUNGevity's educational or support resources. With gratitude, Lauren -- Digital Community Manager LUNGevity Foundation

In 1998, Ruthe Cain was living life in California and enjoying being close to the fresh air and the great outdoors. She was in her late fifties and loved living an active lifestyle, but that year she would face a diagnosis that would change her life: she learned that she had lung cancer. More than 15 years and three surgeries later, Ruthe is still a survivor, and she’s still enjoying life in every way she can. Ruthe first suspected something might be wrong with her health when she had trouble with her vision. “All of the sudden, it looked like a black veil over my eyes,” she says. She went in to see her doctor, and after a series of tests, she was surprised to hear that the problem might be not with her eyes, but her respiratory system. “I didn’t think a thing about my lungs. So they sent me in for a chest x-ray, and that was the beginning of it.” Ruthe was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer, and soon after, she underwent an operation to remove one of the three lobes in her right lung. “After that first lobe was removed, I had no side effects at all. I was totally fine,” she says, and she continued to live an active life, snow skiing, and water skiing and getting outside throughout the year. She also kept up with regular lung exams in order to check for a possible recurrence. It wasn’t until a decade later, in 2008, that a new problem was discovered. On a trip from Maine to Pennsylvania to visit her son and daughter-in-law, Ruthe felt a pain in her chest. “We went to the hospital, and they did a chest x-ray, and sure enough they found another node,” she says. With this second diagnosis of lung cancer, surgeons removed another lobe of her lung, and they also noticed some suspicious findings that indicated changes might be happening in the remaining third lobe. A year later, when a growth was detected, they removed the last part of her right lung, leaving only her left lung intact. “I was really lucky,” says Ruthe. “I have never had [to use] oxygen, I’ve never had any radiation or chemo. But this last surgery, it was definitely a life changer.” With her whole right lung now gone, Ruthe had to cope with more serious side effects, such as an increased danger from chest infections and a noticeable amount of fatigue. It also meant some of the outdoor activities she had always enjoyed were simply no longer possible. However, she has found lots of ways to stay positive – and stay moving. “We got a dog a few years ago, so I am able to take her on the trail at the dog park,” says Ruthe. She also loves spending time in the pool with her two grandsons and recently enrolled in a water aerobics class that she attends with her husband.

Thank you, Mally! Please let us know what you think of the app after you've used it for a little while. We want to make sure this resource is as helpful as possible for patients who are navigating lung cancer. Lauren -- Digital Community Manager LUNGevity Foundation

We have several possible media opportunities for individuals who are using the Lung Cancer Navigator App to help manage their/their loved one's lung cancer diagnosis. If you are interested in sharing your story and helping to raise awareness for this resource, please respond to this thread and we will be in touch with more information. If you would like to learn more about the Lung Cancer Navigator App and how to download it for free from the Apple or Google Play stores, please visit LUNGevity's website. Thank you! Lauren -- Digital Community Manager LUNGevity Foundation

We all know that when someone receives a lung cancer diagnosis, it can be overwhelming. LUNGevity designed the Lung Cancer Navigator app is to empower patients and make understanding and living with lung cancer less daunting and considerably more manageable. The Lung Cancer Navigator mobile app puts your entire support network in the palm of your hand. It helps you understand your diagnosis and provides tools and forums for asking questions, detailing symptoms, and managing medications. The app is a great way to communicate with your healthcare providers and to request support from friends and family. Follow these easy steps to get started! WATCH the introductory video for a quick demonstration of how the Lung Cancer Navigator works. DOWNLOAD the free LUNGevity Lung Cancer Navigator from Google Play or the Apple App Store. VIEW these step-by-step instructions to set up your app. TELL US what you think! We’re eager to know what you find most beneficial and how we can make the Lung Cancer Navigator even more helpful in the future.

Hello! I will reach out to some of our members to see if they can provide you with some information. Regards, Lauren -- Digital Community Manager LUNGevity Foundation

Hello, adv_sports! Welcome to LCSC. We are glad that you found us. I am sorry to hear about your mom's current health issues. This is a great site to connect with others who have gone through similar situations. I hope you get some answers from the biopsy/molecular test results on Thursday. If you're comfortable sharing the results, some of our members may be able to offer advice and answer some of your questions. It sounds like your mother is very fortunate to have you and your siblings to take care of her. Please feel free to ask questions and join in any of the conversations on this discussion board. If you need information/resources on a specific topic, please let me know and I'll be happy to help. With gratitude, Lauren -- Digital Community Manger LUNGevity Foundation

Hi, Patrick, First, I want to say welcome to LCSC - we're glad you found us! This forum is a great place to connect and learn from others' experiences. I am sorry that your family is going through a difficult situation. It's great that you're being proactive by seeking information and support to make sure that you're prepared to make decisions as you navigate your mother's diagnosis--whatever that may be. Like Tom said, the more detailed information you have, the easier it will be to make those types of decisions. I hope you get some answers from the biopsy and then if you're comfortable sharing the results, some of our members may be able to give you advice and recommendations based on their experience. Please feel free to ask questions or jump in to any ongoing conversations in the discussion boards. If you'd like more information about a specific topic, please let me know and I'll be happy to help you find resources. We are here for you. Lauren -- Digital Community Manger LUNGevity Foundation

I was diagnosed with lung cancer in August of 2011 out of the blue, totally unexpected. I went for a regular checkup after experiencing some gastric reflux and abdominal pain. The doctor suggested an abdominal CT scan. He called me back into his office and told me that, although the scan was of my abdomen, a part of my lung had been included. A little shadow had shown up there that concerned him. He asked me to undergo a second CT scan, this time of my lungs. That scan revealed a prominent area of masslike consolidation in my left lower lobe. The next day I saw my pulmonologist, who scheduled me for a needle biopsy. At the time, he didn’t think that the scan findings really indicated a lung cancer. I was not concerned either, as I had never smoked and had little history of cancer in my family. I was traveling home from a visit with some friends when I got the call from the hospital. The emotional voice on the other end was cracking. I didn’t even realize that it was my pulmonologist. He said, “We got the results from your biopsy. You have a very large tumor taking up most of the left lower lobe of your lung. We have to get this right away. We’ll get through this honey.” It was surreal. I thought it was a mistake. I was diagnosed with non-small cell adenocarcinoma. They scheduled surgery right away to remove a lobe of my left lung. That was followed by chemotherapy. It was a very tough time. After I recovered from that surgery and the chemo, I just wanted to go back to my life. I’d been very happy with my life. I was a volunteer chaplain. I didn’t know any other survivors and I didn’t want to think about lung cancer anymore. They said I only had 15% chance of the cancer coming back so I wasn’t going to worry about it. A year later, the cancer came back. Looking at the scan, I felt like I was in a nightmare. The second surgery to remove the rest of my left lung was easier, because I knew what to expect. But after that surgery and treatment, I knew I needed to get plugged in and started searching online for an organization that could help. I liked that LUNGevity Foundation was constantly posting helpful information and seemed focused on survivors. Before I was diagnosed with cancer, I had enjoyed the experience of mentoring, so I applied to be a LifeLine support partner. Nikole from LUNGevity reached out and invited me to attend the HOPE Summit survivorship conference. One of my friends went with me and we had such a wonderful time. HOPE Summit changed my life. Before that time, I had been pretty isolated as a survivor. When I walked in and saw that many survivors, I was amazed and overwhelmed. Hearing others share their experiences changed my whole attitude. The main thing I came away with after HOPE Summit is “be your own advocate.” My amazing friends that I met through LUNGevity connected me with my current doctors at UT Southwest. Any time that you need support from LUNGevity, it is available. I am a LifeLine mentor to other survivors, but I also have LifeLine mentors who have helped me through two recurrences of cancer. They’ve really inspired me and kept me looking forward. Mentoring is a two-way relationship. If they’re feeling down, I can help them and if I’m feeling down, they can help me. It is so rewarding. I’m also a LUNGevity Social Media Ambassador. I’m a big believer in the power of connection. If we isolate ourselves, we focus more on the negatives and everything that’s wrong. But if you’re out there connecting with other survivors, you’re sharing the ups and the downs, you’re not alone. It really helps. The advice I like to share with other people who have lung cancer is if you don’t like what one doctor says, it’s very important to be your own advocate. It’s your life!

Good morning, Paula, I am so happy that you've "found new hope!" That is exactly why this forum exists: to help people living with lung cancer feel connected, to learn from each other's experiences, to find resources/support, and to give each other hope! I'm glad that you have a positive attitude and that you're being honest with people about your fears/concerns. It's important to acknowledge them, like Katie said, so that you can go on living your life and focus on other things! I think it's great that your daughter is there to help, and I hope that you enjoy more time with her and your grandson. If you have questions or you'd like more information/resources or additional support, let us know. We're in this together. With gratitude, Lauren -- Digital Community Manager LUNGevity Foundation

Susan, you must be so excited for your upcoming adventures and I'm so happy that you can share in your niece's special day! I remember your first post in LCSC and I've loved watching you become an integral part of this community! Thank you for supporting and encouraging so many of our members. Your posts truly make a difference. I am sending all of the love and positive vibes to you and Tom for your upcoming scans. Lauren -- Digital Community Manager LUNGevity Foundation

Hi, Kim, Welcome to LCSC. I am sorry for what you and your boyfriend are going through, but you have come to a great place for information and support. I hope that you will connect with many of our members in this online community who are patients/survivors, caregivers, and advocates. Tom has already provided you with some great advice. You will find a lot of information on LUNGevity's website. If you can share more details about your boyfriend's diagnosis, we may be able to answer some of your questions. I am also happy to help you find educational and support resources. You are not alone! Lauren -- Digital Community Manager LUNGevity Foundation

Time is supposed to heal our wounds, that’s what people say; but when you lose your best friend you realize that no amount of time will heal that void that is left. My mother was diagnosed with non small cell lung carcinoma three months after I turned eighteen, only weeks after what would turn out to be our last family portrait. The day the test results came back the only words I heard during the meeting were “cancer” which meant someday I’d be burying her. I don’t recall anything else; but she heard something very different she heard “cancer” and thought how do I fight this and win. She had an amazing oncology team that outfitted her with an aggressive and varied game plan and a thing called a port; but the most important thing they both shared was an optimistic attitude. When they gave her the port in her chest where she would get her chemotherapy , she was not upset that she had to get a port or that she was having chemicals placed in her body and hoping they would work; nope she was upset she was not the first person to get the port , she was number two. When they decided on radiation she got her long beautiful brown hair cut off into a short cute style and donated it for other people to get a wig; after all hers would grow back when she was in remission. She had an amazing belief that God would not have given her this to battle if she were not capable. She believed it was given to her because she was supposed to teach someone, somewhere, something and it may not be during her battle or during her remission it may be long after her death ; but if one person was saved or one person learned something than the fight was worth it. We took the time we were given and made amazing memories going to see our favorite places like Red Rocks or the buffalo herd, we also made memories and new traditions when we spent time in the hospital. If we were there during football season we ordered pizza and had it delivered to her room and then invited her nurses to come have a snack and catch up on the score. We enjoyed watching animated movies and we even got her a Gameboy to play the mind teaser games while she sat for hours getting chemo. In January, we received word our dad had suddenly passed, my parents had divorced when I was two. Her concern while she was in a hospital bed was not herself, but was us , her kids. Several months later we got a phone call that her father had unexpectedly passed away. She was a daddy’s girl and was unable to travel to his funeral so we filmed it for her. When we were in another state, our “sister from another mister”, her friend from work who was like a daughter to her, stayed with her while we buried our dad. It was on this trip we almost lost her, her blood pressure was so low they said they didn’t know how she was awake and talking. She persevered. As she grew weaker we made final plans, it was an enormously painful task asking her to decide where she wanted to be buried, what songs she wanted played and writing her will and her making the decision to not be resuscitated. Her wish was to die at home and we wanted to give her that. She had sacrificed her life for us, given us everything we could have ever wanted. She fought incredibly hard, she was my superman and I was watching her die and there was nothing I could do about it. She said that her goal was just to make it to January, so that her kids didn’t lose both their parents in the same year, but she would not make it. I remember begging God to either heal her or take her but I was not fair to make her stay just for us. It was not fair to make her suffer when she gave us such a wonderful life, after all we had each other to lean on. She deserved to be at peace. Fifteen days after her fifty-fifth birthday we made the calls to have everyone say their goodbyes. She was aware of where she was so we brought photographs and blankets and loved on her, the nurses said she knew we were there but she couldn’t respond or open her eyes or anything. I gave her a kiss and told her it was okay to go, that she didn’t have to stay here in pain for us, she deserved to be happy and at peace with the family in heaven. I stayed with her and she passed on October 18, 2007. This year marks ten years since she has been gone, she has missed so much. I enlisted in the military, my brother is dating a wonderful woman, my sister got married and her and her wife have an adorable son. I got married and have a now five year old step son, bought a house and will complete my college degree this year. She gave us life and taught us about everything from friendship to how to do laundry but most importantly she taught us to never give up because even cancer can be beaten. It was not a physical victory, but victory for the soul. No matter what happened through her illness she never let it define her as a person. She was able to complete one last thing on her bucket list when she earned her wings: she was able to be an organ donor and donate her eyes to someone who needed them. Even in her death she was able to put someone else before herself ! Please if you are fighting this illness know that there is hope, it may not end up being a physical victory but if you keep your sense of humor and your love of life than cancer can never truly be victorious. God bless you on your trip down the yellow-brick road! In loving memory: Patricia Fay Hartlep (October 3, 1952- October 18, 2007) Thank you to all those who care for those fighting! Bless those who love those struggling and rejoice for those who have earned their wings!

Cancer advocate to address largest lung cancer survivor conference FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Linda Wenger lwenger@LUNGevity.org (973) 449-3214 Country music star and cancer survivor Wade Hayes WASHINGTON, DC (February 16, 2017) – LUNGevity Foundation is excited to announce that country music star Wade Hayes will be sharing his cancer journey with lung cancer survivors and their caregivers at the 7th Annual National HOPE Summit on April 29 in Washington, DC. As opening keynote speaker, he will relate his experiences before the largest convening of lung cancer survivors in the country. The annual LUNGevity National HOPE Summit is the largest lung cancer survivorship conference where attendees come from across the country and around the world to learn about living well with lung cancer. The three-day event features inspirational speakers, medical expert forums, lung cancer survivor-specific sessions, advocacy sessions and opportunities for lung cancer survivors at all points in their treatment to connect with each other. Hayes will kick off the two-day conference and set the tone of hope for all in attendance. Hayes was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer in the fall of 2011. After extensive surgery and debilitating chemotherapy, Hayes battled his way back to health only to have the cancer return in the fall of 2012. The country singer fought back and channeled his experience into his latest album, “Go Live Your Life.” Today, Hayes is cancer free, a dedicated advocate for people living with cancer, and an active supporter of the Colon Cancer Alliance and other cancer nonprofits. He has spoken and performed at numerous events across the country to raise funds to fight cancer and inspire others. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to have Wade Hayes join us for this one-of-a-kind celebration of lung cancer survivorship,” said Katie Brown, VP Support and Survivorship. “His commitment to advocating on behalf of others with cancer makes Wade an inspiration for all of us.” The National HOPE Summit is a 2½ day conference in Washington, DC, that is open to lung cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers. Learn more about this unique event and register atwww.LUNGevity.org/hopesummit. Read the full press release here.

Hi, Pattie-cat, Welcome to LCSC! I am glad that you've joined this community. There are thousands of people to talk to who can help answer your questions and share their lung cancer experiences. I hope you realize quickly that you are not alone and that we are here for you. Please feel free to explore the discussion boards and join in any conversations that resonate with you. Or if you have questions, feel free to start a new topic. My uncle was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer in 2011, which inspired me to become involved with LUNGevity. Members on this site are mostly patients/survivors, but you will also meet caregivers, and advocates like me. If you share a bit more information about your diagnosis, we can try to help you understand/navigate and answer some of your questions. Lauren -- Digital Community Manager LUNGevity Foundation

Hi, Alyssa, Welcome to LCSC! Could you share a bit of information about yourself and why you joined this community? Lauren -- Digital Community Manager LUNGevity Foundation

Back in 2009, my mother-in-law, Sue Fosco, was diagnosed with lung cancer. It came as a huge shock to our family. Sue was a very healthy oncology nurse and non-smoker. At first, she thought she had a cold or sinus infection, but it wouldn’t go away, so she went in for further testing. The people administering the tests were her colleagues and friends at the Edward Cancer Center in Naperville. Sue was diagnosed with Stage IV bronchoalveolar adenocarcinoma in both lungs. Sue was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, friend, and nurse. When she passed away in 2011, my husband Dominic and I were in a fog. The day she passed, LUNGevity found us through an email from the Carlinsky family. Dominic worked with Mark Carlinsky, whose wife Lisa passed away from lung cancer in 2008. Lisa had been Sue’s patient at Edward Cancer Center. It seemed like there were a lot of connections drawing us to LUNGevity. We looked into LUNGevity and realized it was a great organization, so we set up a page for family and friends who wanted to donate money toward lung cancer research. In November, we decided to walk in Breathe Deep DuPage to help keep her memory alive. We started a team in Sue’s memory, named “Steps for Sue.” Our team has been walking ever since. In 2013, the event coordinator Michelle Bowles was looking for someone to be a co-chair for Breathe Deep DuPage. Mark recommended me and Michelle sent me an email. As I read the email, I thought, this is my next calling. Michelle and I co-chaired the event in 2013 and 2014. In 2015, Michelle was ready to take a step down, so I became the coordinator. Sue’s loss has inspired me to become involved with LUNGevity Foundation and to raise awareness to fight the stigma surrounding lung cancer. I want the question “Was she a smoker?” to disappear. No one deserves to get lung cancer. I want people to know that lung cancer isn’t just a smoker’s disease. Anyone with lungs can get lung cancer. The most rewarding part of being a volunteer event coordinator is seeing people come to the walk every year. We have had many teams walking for many years and for other teams, it’s their first year. I want the event to be meaningful and impactful for each team that walks. It’s so important for people to come and see survivors and for people to celebrate the memory of the person they’ve lost. Seeing more survivors at the walks each year shows us that what we are doing is making a difference. I’m happy that more people are living longer with lung cancer because of early detection and targeted therapies and the work LUNGevity is doing. Sue Fosco with her granddaughters Melissa with her family

LUNGevity Announces Funding Opportunity for First-Ever Lung Cancer Early Detection and Interception Dream Team Call for ideas for SU2C-LUNGevity-American Lung Association collaboration FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Linda Wenger lwenger@lungevity.org (973) 449-3214 WASHINGTON, DC (February 6, 2017) – Building on the Foundation’s more than seven years of strategic investment in early detection research, LUNGevity Foundation, in collaboration with Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) and the American Lung Association (through its LUNG FORCE initiative), is pleased to announce that the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), SU2C’s scientific partner, has issued a Call for Ideas for research proposals that focus on lung cancer early detection and interception: catching precancerous cells and blocking them from turning into cancer cells. The interdisciplinary and multi-institutional SU2C-LUNGevity-American Lung Association Lung Cancer Interception Dream Team will be the first of its kind, with up to $7 million in funding support. As Dr. Pierre Massion, Professor of Medicine and Cancer Biology at Vanderbilt University, points out, "We understand the pathogenesis of lung cancer a lot better now. People have come to recognize that detecting the disease early and preventing it will require efforts between multiple disciplines to get there. The Lung Cancer Interception Dream Team is a huge step toward this goal." Dr. Massion is a member of LUNGevity’s distinguished Scientific Advisory Board and co-chairs the SU2C-LUNGevity-American Lung Association Joint Scientific Advisory Committee (JSAC). LUNGevity is the only lung cancer nonprofit with a programmatic focus on early detection, to find lung cancer when it is most treatable. Currently, only 15% of people with lung cancer are diagnosed in the earliest stages, resulting in a 5-year survival rate of only 17.7%. This project expands on LUNGevity’s investment in early detection research with the goal of developing an effective, widely available, noninvasive way of finding lung cancer early in all populations. Prioritized areas of interest for this project include research that accurately categorizes premalignant conditions according to risk of progression and that elucidates the underlying alterations that increase that risk; identification of new targets for developing therapeutic interventions of these early lesions; potential surrogate endpoints for clinical trials and regulatory approval; new tools for early detection and monitoring progression; the role of inflammation and immunosuppression in progression; or research targeted at generating sufficient knowledge to justify a clinical intervention to test novel hypotheses. Applicants for the grants are expected to show how their proposed projects will have positive benefit for patients in the near future, achieved through investigation by a multidisciplinary, multi-institutional, synergistic Dream Team of expert investigators. Priority will be given to applications that are characterized by a diversity of team members, including those from fields outside the traditional realms of biomedical research (e.g., physics, mathematics, engineering, health policy, and communications). Specific aims of the project may include basic research, translational studies, and population studies, but the overall proposal must have a strong clinical research component. Program details can be found at https://proposalcentral.altum.com. Letters of Intent are due by March 8, 2017. Read the full press release on LUNGevity's website.

Hi, Sue, I am glad that you are going to a doctor! Please keep us posted! Lauren -- Digital Community Manager LUNGevity Foundation

Hello, stokedsurfer, and welcome to LCSC! I am happy to hear that your mother's surgery went well. Please continue to share updates. I am also glad to see that you've already connected with Tom and Donna. This community is a great place to ask questions and share stories. Please let us know how we can help you navigate your mother's treatment. We have many resources available, including the Lung Cancer Navigator App and the Lung Cancer Helpline. I am happy to help you find the information and resources that you need. With gratitude, Lauren -- Lauren Humphries Digital Community Manager

Study Announcement: Lung Cancer Caregiver Study If you are over the age of 18 and a romantic partner and the caregiver of someone who has been diagnosed with lung cancer in the past two years, please consider contributing to this important study on the quality of life of caregivers of lung cancer patients and survivors. This study consists of completing a brief online survey at 2 different time points over the course of six months (initial time point and 6 months later). Some find the surveys helpful for reflecting on their caregiving experience, and you would be contributing to our understanding of the important but understudied topic of the challenges faced by caregivers. The survey questions will ask you about your feelings about caregiving, your quality of life, your physical health, and the physical health of the lung cancer survivor for whom you are a caregiver. The survey will take approximately 30 minutes at each of the two time points. This research is being conducted by Trisha Raque-Bogdan, Ph.D. of the University of Denver and Amanda Ginter, Ph.D., of Towson University. If you would like to participate in this research, please either go to https://udenver.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_etkPpCNDT9HwkKN or contact Trisha Raque-Bogdan at trisha.raque-bogdan@du.edu. Thank you for your consideration! Trisha Raque-Bogdan, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Counseling Psychology University of Denver Amanda Ginter, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Family Studies Towson University This study has been approved for posting by LUNGevity Foundation.

That's great news, buzzy! Thank you for the update. I'm happy that the pulmonologist was able to give you good news and that you can get back to running. Keep us posted on your next CT! Lauren -- Digital Community Manager LUNGevity Foundation

Hi, April, Welcome to LCSC. My name is Lauren and I am the Digital Community Manager for LUNGevity Foundation. I am happy to "show you around" and help you get started with our online community. We encourage all new members to create an Introduction post in the Introduce Yourself board. To create a new thread or conversation, click the orange Start New Topic button at the top right of the page. You can also join existing conversations by scrolling to the bottom and clicking in the Reply to this topic box. The discussion boards are a great place to ask questions and learn from others' personal experiences. I'm glad to see that you've already met Tom. He's one of our administrators and he's been an incredible help to many members in this community! In addition to the discussion boards, we also have member blogs, photo galleries, and an event calendar. We're updating the calendar this week with nationwide lung cancer events, so check back next week! I hope that you make many meaningful connections on LCSC. Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions about how to use this site. With gratitude, Lauren -- Digital Community Manager LUNGevity Foundation

LUNGevity Foundation Partners With CancerCare to Launch Lung Cancer HELPLine Free Service Addresses Emotional, Practical, and Information Needs of Lung Cancer Patients FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Amanda Greenfield amanda.greenfield@kingcompr.com 212-561-7430 WASHINGTON, DC (January 19, 2017) – LUNGevity, the nation’s leading lung cancer-focused nonprofit organization, today announced the launch of the LUNGevity Lung Cancer HELPLine, a free phone service through which a team of professional oncology social workers will be available to address the emotional, practical, and information needs of people diagnosed with lung cancer, their families, and caregivers. This year, more than 240,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with lung cancer, which means that hundreds of thousands of lung cancer patients, family members, and caregivers will be responsible for navigating a disease that is likely unfamiliar to them. The LUNGevity Lung Cancer HELPLine will serve as a vital resource and source of support for all affected by the disease. LUNGevity has partnered with CancerCare®, the leading national organization providing free, professional support services and information to help people manage the emotional, practical, and financial challenges of cancer. CancerCare’s team of professional oncology social workers are uniquely qualified to address these needs. For nearly 73 years, CancerCare has provided free support services to cancer patients aimed at alleviating distress, helping them to obtain the best possible outcomes from their treatment. Those seeking assistance can call LUNGevity’s new toll-free HELPLine, 844-360-LUNG (5864), from 9:00am – 5:00pm ET, Monday through Friday to: Receive immediate access to reliable educational resources and programs Get personalized information about lung cancer and treatment options Learn effective ways to cope with cancer including managing emotions such as depression, anxiety, or sadness Improve communication with their health care team and loved ones Get referrals to financial assistance resources for needs including pain medication, homecare, childcare, medical supplies, transportation for treatment, and copayment assistance related to chemotherapy and targeted treatment therapies. (Provided to those who meet CancerCare’s eligibility guidelines; subject to funding availability.) Depression, anxiety, strains on relationships, loss of motivation, and financial burdens are commonly experienced by lung cancer patients and can compromise a patient’s ability to complete treatment. LUNGevity developed the Lung Cancer HELPLine to help patients, their caregivers, and families combat these symptoms by offering direct and personalized support for callers across the nation. “Providing lung cancer patients, their families, and caregivers with the resources and tools they need to address every phase of this disease is a priority,” said Andrea Ferris, President and Chairman of LUNGevity Foundation. “Our goal in setting up this HELPLine is to add dimension to these efforts and provide an additional resource to individuals affected by lung cancer to ensure that no one has to navigate this disease alone.” The HELPLine will join a number of other critical resources LUNGevity has created to support the needs of lung cancer patients, their caregivers, and loved ones, including Clinical Trial Finder, LifeLine Support Partners, and the recently launched Lung Cancer Navigator Mobile App. Charitable funding for the HELPLine was generously provided by Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Genentech. For more information on LUNGevity, please visit www.LUNGevity.org. Click here to read the full press release.