Association launches nationwide lung cancer awareness initiative

The American Lung Association – in partnership with national presenting sponsor, CVS Caremark – recently unveiled LUNG FORCE, a national initiative to make lung cancer in women a public health priority, drive policy change and expand research funding.

“Together we have to make lung cancer in women a public health priority and change our thinking about this disease. We hope that with increased awareness and education, women will join the fight against lung cancer and for lung health,” Harold Wimmer, national president and chief executive officer of the American Lung Association, said in a press release. “We are proud to introduce LUNG FORCE and honored to have CVS Caremark as a partner in this new movement that unites women to stand together against lung cancer.”

Harold Wimmer

In its inaugural debut, LUNG FORCE intends to unite women against lung cancer and for lung health, and encourage them to raise their voices for change. Through nationwide efforts, LUNG FORCE will emphasize lung cancer as a cause that people care about and act on, educate and empower patients and health care providers, and raise critical funds for lung cancer research.

As part of its continued commitment to healthy living, CVS Caremark intends to support the LUNG FORCE initiative via an in-store promotion throughout June. In addition, CVS/pharmacy customers will have the opportunity to contribute to LUNG FORCE at checkout with all proceeds earmarked to support the movement, reinforcing its decision earlier this year to remove tobacco from its retail stores.

“We are excited to be part of LUNG FORCE and look forward to spreading the word about this movement,” Helena B. Foulkes, president of CVS/pharmacy, said in a press release. “This partnership aligns with our commitment to help our customers on the path to better health. We believe our customers and employees will raise their voices and rally behind this important women’s health issue.”

According to a recent American Lung Association survey of more than 1,000 American adult women intended to measure knowledge and perceptions about lung cancer, women’s awareness of lung cancer’s impact was found to be extremely low.

Despite being the foremost fatal cancer among women, the survey revealed that only 1% of women cited lung cancer as a cancer that is priority concern for them. However, the survey revealed that 78% of women are not aware that lung cancer has killed more women than breast cancer since 1987.