Gwinnett Medical Center Hosts Lung Cancer Awareness Event

On Thursday, November 13, Gwinnett Medical Center’s Cancer Institute and the national Lung Cancer Alliance hosted the area’s first ever “Shine a Light on Lung Cancer” event at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse. This year, more than 200 hospitals around the country hosted the Shine a Light event to raise awareness about lung cancer which is the number one cancer killer among both men and women.

Two survivors, Dorothy Moore and Frank Circelli, spoke and shared their experience and journey through diagnosis and treatment.

Representative Brooks P. Coleman closed the event encouraging everyone to learn their ABC’s of cancer:

A = attitude (to have a positive attitude to fight lung cancer)

B = belief (belief in themselves and their ability to fight cancer)

C = communicate (continue the conversation and spread awareness about this disease that is impacting and affecting men and women at an alarming rate)

GMC physicians spoke about treatment options, importance of screening and the impact of lung cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., taking the lives of twice as many women as breast cancer and three times as many men as prostate cancer. Only 50 percent of women diagnosed with lung cancer will be alive a year later. At 16 percent, lung cancer 5-year survival rates are among the lowest of all cancer types.