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Local News

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Local lung cancer survivor turns her fight to fundraising
Hardin County Fair - Kenton, Ohio
By MICHELLE REITER

STAFF WRITER

Louann Cummings, a business professor at the University of Findlay, did not know much about lung cancer for much of her life, but then she noticed a pain in her foot.

Doctors thought she had a stress fracture, and Blanchard Valley Hospital suggested giving her a full body scan, just in case.

When they did, they found something that changed -- and likely saved -- her life: a spot on her lung.

"Lung cancer has about a 15 percent survival rate over five years," she said. "I am a miracle."

Doctors surgically removed a malignant tumor on her lung in 2004, and Cummings, now 55, endured months of chemotherapy to keep the cancer cells away.

Five years later, the her body is still free of cancer, but Cummings' cancer fight is not over.

A few months ago, she lobbied in Washington, D.C. for the passage of a comprehensive lung cancer research funding bill that would set aside $75 million in federal money to research lung cancer. Called the Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act of 2009, the bill would authorize a broad comprehensive program to require all the research agencies within the Departments of Health and Human Services, Defense and Veterans Administration to come up with a strategy to reduce the high mortality rate for lung cancer.

Since her diagnosis, Cummings learned that lung cancer kills more people than any other cancer, partly because it is difficult to detect.

Despite its high mortality rate, the cancer receives very little attention from those who could do something about it, she said.

People still relate the disease to smoking, she said, and that hinders progress.

"Almost everyone who finds out I have lung cancer assumes I smoke," she said.

She does not smoke. No one in her family smokes. And lately, that is not unusual among lung cancer sufferers.

Lung cancer is growing the fastest among non-smoking women, she said. But breast cancer, which offers a much higher chance of survival, receives much more funding and national attention.

Very little research has been done on causes of lung cancer, she said; often it seems to strike randomly.

Air pollutants may contribute. Cummings encourages people to buy radon kits to test their homes, as radon has been linked to cancer.

But there is not a lot of conclusive or helpful information available yet.

That will change, if she has anything to do with it.

"I'm personally committed to raising $100,000 for lung cancer," she said.

For instance, she said she is involved in the Free to Breathe Rumble Run, which will be held Aug. 29 at Signature Harley-Davidson in Perrysburg.

These days, she is trying to raise funds all the time, but her advocacy came slowly.

The first two years after Cummings was diagnosed, she kept quiet about her illness. She did not want the identity of a cancer survivor, and she didn't want anyone to treat her differently.

But then she started making some phone calls, compiling information, and trying, gradually, to make some changes. She was horrified, she said, by what she found.

According to the National Cancer Institute, lung cancer kills:

• More people than breast, prostate, colon, liver, kidney, and melanoma cancers combined.

• More than three times as many men as prostate cancer.

• Nearly twice as many women as breast cancer.

• An average of 439 people a day.

Despite those statistics, the National Cancer Institute reported that lung cancer research received less than 5 percent of its budget in 2007.

According to the Lung Cancer Alliance, the Department of Defense has spent $2.07 billion on breast cancer research between 1992 and 2007 and $810 million on prostate cancer research, but nothing on lung cancer research.

Cummings hopes to help change that, not just through lobbying, but also through fundraising and education. She is, after all, one of its few survivors.

"I am a face on this disease," she said.

On the Web:

Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act of 2009:

www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-332



Reiter: 419-427-8497

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1 Comment

Fran Brar wrote:
Local Lung Cancer Survivor
“ Cancer should be viewed more openly and by medical insurance companies,too.

Only certain cancers are talked about, but cancer can be found in almost any part of the human body.

My dad is a colon cancer survivor, but still is healing. The medical cost are there and more support is needed for all who have any type of cancer.

Americans are living longer, but no adjustments were made for this and it is showing now for past and present generations to have to deal with.

I wish all cancer paients well with their recoveries.


 ”
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 4:57:16 PM
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After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

Carey announces holiday closing
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With the promotion, Fletcher will stay at the Findlay post and serve as an assistant post commander, according to the patrol.

Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

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There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

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Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.