Sequoia Hospital Lung Cancer Early Detection Program
Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation Hopes to Save Lives
Sequoia Hospital, in partnership with the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation, announced today, January 7, 2007, the opening of the Sequoia Hospital Lung Cancer Early Detection program. The hope of the Lung Cancer Early Detection program is to prolong survival.
“If I can save one life by creating greater awareness and encouraging early detection, then I’ve succeeded,” said Bonnie J. Addario, Sequoia Hospital lung cancer survivor and founder of the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to eradicating lung cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women. In 2008 there will be approximately 213,380 new cases of lung cancer in the United States: 114,780 among men and 98,620 among women. Approximately 160,390 will die of this disease. More people die of lung cancer than of breast, prostate, colon, liver, melanoma, and kidney cancers combined.
Sequoia is very excited to have a new lung cancer early detection program and give our community the opportunity to be diagnosed early,” said Glenna Vaskelis, Sequoia Hospital President. “Partnering with the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation is the kind of collaboration Sequoia is known for. A community hospital partnering with a community foundation creates new opportunities and unique programs for our patients and families.”
Sequoia’s Lung Cancer Early Detection program has been accepted as a participating member of the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program (I-ELCAP).
I-ELCAP, organized and administered under the direction of the Weill College of Medicine of Cornell University, is the first research study of its kind involving a large number of hospitals in the United States and Europe that are evaluating the effectiveness of screening for lung cancer with low-dose CT Scanning. Sequoia is proud to offer the opportunity for early lung cancer detection to all of those individuals known to be at risk via their participation in the I-ELCAP program and also be able to provide medical evaluation for any other individual who has concerns regarding their individual risk for developing lung cancer.
“Bonnie is a tireless advocate for early detection of lung cancer,” said Fred Marcus, MD, Sequoia Hospital oncologist, Bonnie’s personal physician and the principal investigator for the I-ELCAP study at Sequoia. “When she suggested a partnership to create a lung cancer early detection program at Sequoia with participation in I-ELCAP, we listened. Being able to offer the opportunity for early lung cancer detection, whether as part of the I-ELCAP study or through a detailed medical evaluation, is reflective of our comprehensive and integrated approach to lung cancer diagnosis and treatment at Sequoia Hospital.”
Overseeing the Lung Cancer Early Detection program is dedicated Program Coordinator, Kate Tully, R.N., B.S.N. Sequoia has developed a comprehensive care plan for all those who contact Kate Tully with questions about screening or have other clinical concerns regarding their risk for lung cancer. With the Lung Cancer Early Detection program, Sequoia continues its long commitment to providing world class care in a community setting.
“Sequoia is so thankful and appreciative of Bonnie’s support for this new program,” said Melissa Lim, MD, pulmonologist and medical director of the program. “Her philanthropy and vision are truly heartfelt.”
The Sequoia Hospital Lung Cancer program, in a unique collaboration with physicians from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center, offers Bay Area lung cancer patients a comprehensive, dedicated multidisciplinary approach to lung cancer treatment. The early detection program is just one facet of Sequoia’s Lung Cancer program.
Sequoia Hospital is partnering with the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation on a local level to assist them in ultimately achieving their larger goals of establishing multiple early detection sites across the nation.
For more information call Sequoia’s Lung Cancer Early Detection program at (650) 367-LUNG (5864).
About Sequoia Hospital
Sequoia Hospital is an accredited, not-for-profit community hospital providing innovative and exceptional healthcare to Bay Area residents. Sequoia, ranked among the top 5 percent of hospitals nationwide, is a recipient of the 2007 Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical ExcellenceTM, based on a study issued by HealthGrades, the nation’s leading independent healthcare ratings company. Offering a full range of medical, surgical and specialty programs, Sequoia also ranks in the top percentile of hospitals nationwide for patient satisfaction.
“Best in California for Coronary Interventional Procedures” in 2008 is another HealthGrades rating for Sequoia Hospital, which also received the HealthGrades 2008 Cardiac Care Excellence Award and 2008 Cardiac Surgery Excellence Award. To learn more, please call 650.367.LUNG or visit Sequoia Hospital.
Sequoia Hospital is partnering with the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation on a local level to assist them in ultimately achieving their larger goals of establishing multiple early detection sites across the nation.
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