VCU Medical Center to Take Part in the Fight against Lung Cancer

By Malorie Burkett

The Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center is taking part in the inaugural Free to Breathe 5K run/walk event to help promote lung cancer awareness.

Sponsored in part by VCU’s Department of Radiology, the event will begin at 7 a.m. on Saturday, March 12, at Short Pump Town Center, 11800 W. Broad St.

Organizers hope the event will raise awareness of lung cancer and the research and diagnostic tools available to help decrease the number of deaths attributed to the disease each year.

Because screening tests may find a disease early on, when treatment may work better, the VCU Medical Center’s efforts in the fight against lung cancer includes its Lung Cancer Screening Program, which tests patients when there are no symptoms, clinical signs or history of lung cancer. Information about this program will be available at the Free to Breathe event.

In addition, representatives from the VCU Medical Center’s smoking cessation program and the Massey Cancer Center will be on hand to provide information on how to quit smoking and on the services offered by the Massey Cancer Center.

Proceeds from the Free to Breathe event will benefit the National Lung Cancer Partnership. For more information, call 804-347-8398.