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Inset: Patient Hildy Grossman at the ballon-a-ton. Morgan Schulz, MD, and Jessica Ackerman of Thoracic Surgery
A palpable symbol of hope, the dozens of balloons at the first annual Beat Lung Cancer balloon-a-thon were also a visual reminder of how much care providers, family and friends care for women with lung cancer.
“Each of the balloons were purchased in the name of a patient, and the recipients were just stunned by how much people care for and support them,” said Yolonda Colson, MD, PhD, director of the Women’s Lung Cancer Program and associate surgeon in the Division of Thoracic Surgery. “It was a wonderful event, and one that we will continue to do annually.”
The balloon-a-thon, held on a Saturday last month in the Peter Bent Brigham Rotunda, raised money with the sale of more than 600 balloons in support of the Women’s Lung Cancer Forum, a group of patients, care givers, advocates and physicians dedicated to advancing the education of patients and increasing public awareness of lung cancer. Donations in support of patients came in from as far as Bermuda.
During the event, Colson spoke about new research and treatments on the horizon that offer hope for women diagnosed with lung cancer. Tracey Hyams, BWH’s director of Women’s Health Policy and Advocacy, discussed her work advocating for patients with lung cancer, and, in particular, a bill aimed at reducing mortality of women with the disease.
“We’re working to erase the stigma of smoking associated with lung cancer,” Colson said. “Many women diagnosed with lung cancer have never smoked.”
Colson read the names of the women being honored and then attendees were treated to cake. After the event, Colson and her team took the rest of the balloons up to Tower 11 and presented them to lung cancer patients.
For more information on the Women’s Lung Cancer Forum, visit www.womenslungcancer.org