Media contact: Beena Thannickal
Lung cancer is the No. 1 cause of cancer deaths in Alabama and takes more lives annually than breast, prostate and colon cancer combined. While screening provides the greatest chance for finding and treating the disease early, only 4 percent of people nationally are screened each year.
In an effort to provide credible information to the community about the disease, the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB will host a “Shine a Light on Lung Cancer” virtual event on Monday, Nov. 9, at 5:30 p.m. This outreach event, which is free and open to the public, is presented as part of Lung Cancer Awareness Month. While it is designed to educate the community about lung cancer, presenters also hope to support those impacted by the disease.
Barry Sleckman, M.D., Ph.D., director of the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, along with a panel of expert physicians, will discuss the latest in lung cancer screening options, treatment and clinical trials.
Shine a Light is a national initiative sponsored by the GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer that the O’Neal Cancer Center partners with to persuade smokers and former smokers in seven Alabama counties to seek screening for lung cancer.
“The O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center works with our partners to bring essential information about cancer prevention, screening and treatment to the public,” said Claudia Hardy, MPA, program director for the center’s Office of Community Outreach and Engagement. “While the COVID-19 pandemic has delivered some unprecedented challenges, activities such as these clearly show creativity and a determination to deliver lifesaving information to those who need it most.”
The virtual format of this year’s event provides for a larger platform to reach a much larger audience. Patients, family members, caregivers, students, health care advocates and professionals are especially encouraged to attend. To register for this virtual event, visit go.uab.edu/shinealight2020.