Lung Cancer Awareness Week
Cancer Care and the Oncology Nursing Society
Spectrum Science Communications was retained by Cancer Care, the Oncology Nursing Society, The Wellness Community, and The CHEST Foundation, with a grant from Bristol-Myers Squibb, to launch Lung Cancer Awareness Week.The mission: to raise awareness of lung cancer with the general public and the media, encourage early diagnosis, and promote the support resources. Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer in America, claiming more lives each year than breast, prostate and colorectal cancers combined. Yet, awareness remains low..jpg)
Spectrum secured celebrity spokespeople with direct ties to lung cancer to donate their time to the cause—recording artist Richard Marx, supermodel Christy Turlington and television star S. Epatha Merkerson. Spectrum also identified patients and physicians to serve as spokespeople. Spectum coordinated interviews on “Good Morning America” and the “Today Show” for Christy Turlington and the physician spokesperson. Nurses waving signs with the Web site address appeared outside the morning shows to show their support and talk to weatherman Al Roker. Spectrum also coordinated local outreach and satellite media tours, radio media tours, video news releases, and print interviews.
In two years, the campaign has reached nearly 200 million people. Lung Cancer Awareness Week appeared on all the major national morning shows and the Ananda Lewis Show. Articles have appeared in TV Guide, Prevention, Shape, The Journal of the National Cancer Institute, USA Today, The New York Times and hundreds of other publications.