Women’s Lung Health Week

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

WHEREAS, lung cancer is the number one cancer killer in women in the United States; and

WHEREAS, over the past 37 years the lung cancer death rate in women has almost doubled; and

WHEREAS, more than 3,200 people died from lung cancer in Alabama in 2014; and

WHEREAS, the age-adjusted lung cancer death rate in Alabama is 60.0 per 100,000, significantly higher than the United States 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 United States 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 and other lung diseases and will ultimately save lives; and

WHEREAS, LUNG FORCE is the national movement led by the American Lung Association, with the mission of making lung cancer 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 2015, as

Women’s Lung Health Week

in the state of Alabama.