Mission Moment February 2019

STATE OF TOBACCO CONTROL

Thanks to the policies called for in our annual "State of Tobacco Control" report, we have achieved record low adult and youth smoking rates! But will the rising epidemic of e-cigarette use by youth reverse this hard-won progress? Learn more from our 17th annual "State of Tobacco Control" report, which grades the federal government and states on their efforts to enact policies proven to reduce tobacco use, the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the U.S. How did your state rate? This year's report also outlines the pieces needed to solve the tobacco use puzzle and reveals the one critical piece that's missing. Learn more from our blog and top 10 lists.

You can help too by signing our petition calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to prohibit all flavored tobacco products.

LUNG CANCER

LUNG FORCE Hero: Hero Nancy G., a small cell lung cancer survivor that believes LUNG FORCE will help fulfill her dream of a world in which patients diagnosed with lung cancer will find hope and a supportive community to help them through their journey.

RESEARCH

Understanding Our Research: Did you know the American Lung Association has been advancing medical research to move us closer to a world free of lung disease for over a century? This new video explains how basic, translational and clinical research are all pieces of the puzzle working together to save lives. Learn more at Lung.org/about-our-research.

Helping Patients with Lung Cancer Mutations Understand Treatment:

Over the past decade, a new class of cancer drugs called targeted therapy, which acts on mutations in cancer-causing cells, has revolutionized lung cancer treatment. Patients who receive this highly directed therapy can live longer than patients who are treated with chemotherapy. However, targeted therapy eventually no longer works to slow cancer growth, leading to resurgent disease. Dr. Laura Petrillo is performing a study to explore patients' understanding of what testing positive for a lung cancer mutation means for their life expectancy, and how doctors convey that information to patients, so that they can better prepare for the future.

HEALTH PROMOTIONS

New Spanish Language E-Cigarette Resources: E-cigarette use by children has skyrocketed, with a 78 percent increase of use by high school students and 48 percent increase among middle school students from 2017 to 2018. We now have e-cigarette resources available in Spanish, available to download, including:  

• E-Cigarette Fact Sheet- Parents
• E-Cigarette Fact Sheet- Schools
• E-Cigarette Fact Sheet- Teens
• E-Cigarette Health Risk Fact Sheet

More e-cigarette resources for parents, teachers and others can be found at Lung.org/ecigs.

Find Support Through Community: The Lung Association is proud to support several free online communities on Inspire.com for people facing lung disease. These communities offer peer-to-peer interactions so you can share experiences, find support and ask questions. Beginning on February 24, you can join our latest community—Living with PAH—for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and their caregivers. This new community joins our seven other support communities:

• Lung Cancer Survivors
• Living with COPD
• Living with Lung Disease
• Living with Pulmonary Fibrosis
• Caring for Pulmonary Fibrosis
• Quit Now: Freedom From Smoking®
• Living with Asthma

Prepare for Winter Weather: This winter's polar vortex was a stark reminder that severe cold, power outages and other extreme winter weather events can have dangerous health consequences, especially for those with lung disease. We have new tools and tips to help you prepare for winter weather and protect your heath.

EVENTS

Join a Fight For Air Climb with American Ninja Warrior Najee Richardson: Climb season is here and this year you have the chance to join our 2019 National Fight For Air Climb Ambassador Najee Richardson at climbs in Denver, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York or Atlanta! If you can't make one of those events, you can even join Najee's virtual team. Learn more about Najee and see some of his special Climb videos and find a climb near you.

ADVOCACY

The Year of Air Pollution &  Health—Month Two: In January, the American Lung Association launched the "Year of Air Pollution & Health" to increase public education and engagement around air pollution, climate change and health. Each month of the year will focus on a different aspect of air pollution and climate change—from major pollution sources, to vulnerable populations, to steps everyone can take to protect the air we all breathe. February's theme is "Who Bears the Burden of Air Pollution?" We're inviting you to a virtual screening of the short film, "Asthma Alley," followed by a panel discussion featuring the filmmaker and health experts, on Feb. 28 from 4:30–5:30 p.m. ET. The film focuses a neighborhood in the Bronx with poor air quality and exceptionally high rates of asthma and follows the story of how asthma impacts a local girl and her family. To register for this virtual screening, click here.

EACH Breath Blog

In our latest blog, "What You Need to Know about Precision Medicine: A Guide," you can follow a flow chart to be guided through the highlights of our expert panel on the growing field of lung cancer precision medicine and subsequent drug approvals.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Learn how your support makes a difference in the health of all Americans through our  FY18 Annual Report, making the point that  "When you can't breathe, nothing else matters."  You will agree when you take a look at the highlights, the impactful personal stories, and notable achievements of the past year.  Together, we're fulfilling our mission to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease.