LUNGevity Foundation Partners With CancerCare to Launch Lung Cancer HELPLine

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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.