Women’s Lung Health Week

WHEREAS, every five minutes, a woman in the United States is told she has lung cancer; and

WHEREAS, the lung cancer death rate in women has more than doubled over the past 35 years; and

WHEREAS, more than 3,200 people died from lung cancer in Alabama in 2010; and

WHEREAS, the age-adjusted lung cancer death rate in Alabama is 60.0 per 100,000, significantly higher than the US rate of 47.6 per 100,000; and

WHEREAS, the age-adjusted lung cancer death rate for women in Alabama is 41.1 per 100,000, significantly higher than the US rate among women of 38.1 per 100,000; and

WHEREAS, advocacy and increased awareness will result in more and better treatment for women with lung cancer, COPD, asthma and other lung diseases and will ultimately save lives; and

WHEREAS, LUNG FORCE is the new national movement led by the American Lung Association, with the mission of making lung cancer and lung disease history – uniting women to stand together with a collective strength and determination to lead the fight against lung cancer and for lung health:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of the State of Alabama, do hereby proclaim the second week of May 2014, as

Women’s Lung Health Week

in the state of Alabama.