FirstHealth to “Shine Light” on Lung Cancer with Nov. 12 Vigil
| Date Posted: 10/23/2015
PINEHURST – According to American Cancer Society estimates, there will be about 221,200 new cases of lung cancer and 158,040 lung cancer deaths in the United States by the end of this year.
Accounting for about 27 percent of all cancer deaths, lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women – taking the lives of more people than colon, breast and prostate cancers combined.
On Thursday, Nov. 12, FirstHealth of the Carolinas will join communities throughout the country in hosting the Seventh Annual Shine a Light on Lung Cancer Vigil in partnership with the national Lung Cancer Alliance.
The local program will begin at 6 p.m. at the Clara McLean House, 20 FirstVillage Drive, Pinehurst. The evening will include a lighting ceremony recognizing the lives that are touched by lung cancer. Weather permitting, this portion of the program will be held in the Clara’s House Healing Garden and will include prayer led by Pam Hudson, senior development officer for The Foundation of FirstHealth.
An informational aspect of the program for the evening will focus on a panel-style discussion of clinical trials featuring clinical trials coordinators Lori Despain, R.N. OCN; Shauna Eggertson, R.N., BSN; Patricia Young, R.N., BSN; and Alice Roman-Hess, Ph.D. The discussion will be introduced by Michael S. Batalo, M.D., who recently joined the Medical Oncology team at the FirstHealth Outpatient Cancer Center.
Also scheduled to participate is Polly King, LCSW, a licensed clinical social worker with FirstHealth Cancer Care and the current Ms. Senior North Carolina. During the program, she will discuss the various resources available to cancer patients.
Entertainment will be provided by acoustic guitarist Jeremy Robinson.
The only national nonprofit organization dedicated solely to providing support and advocacy for people living with or at risk for lung cancer, the Lung Cancer Alliance works with community partners to create events that help raise awareness, advance early detection and research, support patients and their loved ones, and work toward building governmental support.
For more information on or to register for the Shine a Light on Lung Cancer Vigil, call (800) 213-3284.
