Upstage Lung Cancer is a charitable organization established to support the fight against lung cancer by raising awareness of lung cancer and supporting research for early detection and innovative treatments. Music and musical theater entertainment is our means to raise funds to accomplish our mission.

Cause of Death:
Lung Cancer

Paul Newman

Paul Newman

Academy Award winning actor (The Color of Money), film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, and auto racing enthusiast.

Jan 26, 1925 - Sept 26, 2008

The Shoes that Saved My Life

In the Fall of 2006, I bought a pair of green sandals with a cute kitten heel. I enjoyed the color and style and made sure they were comfortable, but it never occurred to me to examine the sole. Several days later I put them on and headed down my basement stairs. One step onto the threshold and out went my feet as though I’d stepped onto ice: one foot went back and the other scraped the wall in front of me. Fortunately, the basement stairs are very narrow, and I was able to catch myself by grabbing both walls of the passageway.

Thus began an astonishing journey.   Read More

The importance of organizations dedicated to fighting lung cancer

Presented by Jennifer Temel, MD, a thoracic oncologist, MGH Cancer Center

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The Time is NOW!

  • Worldwide, someone dies of lung cancer every 2 minutes.
  • It is the number one cancer killer, more than breast, ovarian, uterine and colon cancer COMBINED.
  • National funding for lung cancer research only received less than 5% of National Cancer Institute’s budget in FY09.
  • Approximately 1 in 14 men and women will be diagnosed with cancer of the lung and bronchus during their lifetime
  • There appears to be a difference in biology of lung cancer between men and women. Research shows that genetic, metabolic and hormonal factors all are important to the way women react to carcinogens and lung cancer.
  • One in five women and one in twelve men diagnosed with lung cancer have never smoked.
  • Radon is the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer.
  • Early detection has the best chance for surviving, however the survival rate for 5 years for lung cancer is only 16% compared with 99% for prostate and 89% for breast cancer.

Information provided from National Cancer Institute Statistics