American Lung Association in Western New York - Community Conversations

Welcome to the eighth episode of our "Why We Climb" season as a part of our 2022 Buffalo Fight For Air Climb's Lung Hero Honor Program sponsored by WNY Immediate Care. Bruce Izard, a member of our Buffalo Fight For Air Climb planning committee and team member of Team NFTA, shares his reason for climbing! Bruce climbs to honor his brother, Art, who battled Cystic Fibrosis. Art's story is one of inspiration and led Bruce to continue to raise awareness and funds to support those living with lung disease. Join us on Saturday, May 7, 2022 at Highmark Stadium for our 12th annual Fight For Air Climb Buffalo. To register, please visit http://fightforairclimb.org/buffalo. Use code "WHYICLIMB" for $10 off your registration! WNY Immediate Care has been providing urgent care and occupational health services in the greater Buffalo, NY area since 2005. Through their quality and compassionate treatment, they have earned the public's trust as the urgent care market leader in the greater Buffalo area. For more information about WNY Immediate Care, please visit www.wnyimmediatecare.com.

Welcome to the seventh episode of our "Why We Climb" season as a part of our 2022 Buffalo Fight For Air Climb's Lung Hero Honor Program sponsored by WNY Immediate Care. Sue Epstein is a new climber and shares her reason for climbing. Sue, as a lung cancer survivor, climbs for herself, her surgeon, and to show her Track team from Sacred Heart Academy that you can overcome hardships in your life in positive ways. She will be climbing in person with us for the first time this year! Join us on Saturday, May 7, 2022 at Highmark Stadium for our 12th annual Fight For Air Climb Buffalo. To register, please visit http://fightforairclimb.org/buffalo. Use code "WHYICLIMB" for $10 off your registration! WNY Immediate Care has been providing urgent care and occupational health services in the greater Buffalo, NY area since 2005. Through their quality and compassionate treatment, they have earned the public's trust as the urgent care market leader in the greater Buffalo area. For more information about WNY Immediate Care, please visit www.wnyimmediatecare.com.

Welcome to the sixth episode of our "Why We Climb" season as a part of our 2022 Buffalo Fight For Air Climb's Lung Hero Honor Program sponsored by WNY Immediate Care. Bill Murray, a member of our Buffalo Fight For Air Climb planning committee and team captain of Murray's Marchers! Bill climbs to honor his father, who battled pulmonary fibrosis, as well as his mother who also battled COPD. Join us on Saturday, May 7, 2022 at Highmark Stadium for our 12th annual Fight For Air Climb Buffalo. To register, please visit http://fightforairclimb.org/buffalo. Use code "WHYICLIMB" for $10 off your registration! WNY Immediate Care has been providing urgent care and occupational health services in the greater Buffalo, NY area since 2005. Through their quality and compassionate treatment, they have earned the public's trust as the urgent care market leader in the greater Buffalo area. For more information about WNY Immediate Care, please visit www.wnyimmediatecare.com.

Welcome to the fifth episode of our "Why We Climb" season as a part of our Buffalo Fight For Air Climb's Lung Hero Honor Program sponsored by WNY Immediate Care. Chief Stephen MacAdam, a member of our Buffalo Fight For Air Climb planning committee and team captain of the Brighton Fire team from Rochester, NY joins us to share his reason for climbing. Chief Mac climbs for his dad as well as the importance of healthy lungs and lung health in the fire service. Join us on Saturday, May 7, 2022 at Highmark Stadium for our 12th annual Fight For Air Climb Buffalo. To register, please visit http://fightforairclimb.org/buffalo. Use code "WHYICLIMB" for $10 off your registration! WNY Immediate Care has been providing urgent care and occupational health services in the greater Buffalo, NY area since 2005. Through their quality and compassionate treatment, they have earned the public's trust as the urgent care market leader in the greater Buffalo area. For more information about WNY Immediate Care, please visit www.wnyimmediatecare.com.

Welcome to the fourth episode of our "Why We Climb" season as a part of our Buffalo Fight For Air Climb's Lung Hero Honor Program sponsored by WNY Immediate Care. Joanne Moore-Beutler, a member of our Buffalo Fight For Air Climb planning committee and member of our largest Buffalo Climb team, WNY Diamond Cutters joins us to share her reason for climbing. Joanne climbs for her father, a Navy veteran and volunteer firefighter, and aunt who passed away after a battle with COPD. Join us on Saturday, May 7, 2022 at Highmark Stadium for our 12th annual Fight For Air Climb Buffalo. To register, please visit http://fightforairclimb.org/buffalo. Use code "WHYICLIMB" for $10 off your registration! WNY Immediate Care has been providing urgent care and occupational health services in the greater Buffalo, NY area since 2005. Through their quality and compassionate treatment, they have earned the public's trust as the urgent care market leader in the greater Buffalo area. For more information about WNY Immediate Care, please visit www.wnyimmediatecare.com.

Welcome to the third episode of our "Why We Climb" season as a part of our Buffalo Fight For Air Climb's Lung Hero Honor Program sponsored by WNY Immediate Care. Sarah Geyer, a member of our Buffalo Fight For Air Climb planning committee and member of our largest Buffalo Climb team, WNY Diamond Cutters joins us to share her reason for climbing. Sarah climbs for her father who passed last year after his battle with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). Join us on Saturday, May 7, 2022 at Highmark Stadium for our 12th annual Fight For Air Climb Buffalo. To register, please visit http://fightforairclimb.org/buffalo. Use code "WHYICLIMB" for $10 off your registration! WNY Immediate Care has been providing urgent care and occupational health services in the greater Buffalo, NY area since 2005. Through their quality and compassionate treatment, they have earned the public's trust as the urgent care market leader in the greater Buffalo area. For more information about WNY Immediate Care, please visit www.wnyimmediatecare.com.

Welcome to the second episode of our "Why We Climb" season as a part of our Buffalo Fight For Air Climb's Lung Hero Honor Program sponsored by WNY Immediate Care. Fight For Air Climb - Buffalo committee co-chair and member of Team NFTA joins us to share her reason for climbing. Rachel climbs for her mother, Caroline, who took her last breath on October 29, 2012 after struggling for years with COPD and emphysema. Join us on Saturday, May 7, 2022 at Highmark Stadium for our 12th annual Fight For Air Climb Buffalo. To register, please visit http://fightforairclimb.org/buffalo. Use code "WHYICLIMB" for $10 off your registration! WNY Immediate Care has been providing urgent care and occupational health services in the greater Buffalo, NY area since 2005. Through their quality and compassionate treatment, they have earned the public's trust as the urgent care market leader in the greater Buffalo area. For more information about WNY Immediate Care, please visit www.wnyimmediatecare.com.

This is our first episode of our "Why We Climb" season as a part of our Buffalo Fight For Air Climb's Lung Hero Honor Program sponsored by WNY Immediate Care. Fight For Air Climb - Buffalo committee co-chair and captain of team K-Mo Climbers joins us to share her reason for climbing. Amy climbs for her mother who she lost to lung cancer in 2020. Join us on Saturday, May 7, 2022 at Highmark Stadium for our 12th annual Fight For Air Climb Buffalo. To register, please visit http://fightforairclimb.org/buffalo. Use code "WHYICLIMB" for $10 off your registration! WNY Immediate Care has been providing urgent care and occupational health services in the greater Buffalo, NY area since 2005. Through their quality and compassionate treatment, they have earned the public's trust as the urgent care market leader in the greater Buffalo area. For more information about WNY Immediate Care, please visit www.wnyimmediatecare.com.

Welcome to episode 17, Mental & Physical Health - Why They Matter. Did you know that our mental health is connected to our physical health, and is just as important? Listen to our conversation today with Dr. George Burnett, Medical Director for Behavioral Health at Independent Health as we discuss mental health during the holidays and winter season, the COVID-19 pandemic and throughout the journey of a medical diagnosis such as lung cancer or IPF. Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with lung cancer? Consider joining one of the American Lung Association's online support groups or finding one in your area! To learn more about Mental Health resources and services through Independent Health, head to the Mental Health & Substance Use section of their website. To speak with a representative and learn more about their Behavioral Health Department, you can call (716) 529-3945. If you or somebody you know is going through a mental health crisis now or any time throughout the year, please use the references below to seek help, and always remember to call 911 with an emergency: 24-hour Crisis Hotline for Erie County: (716) 834-3131 24-hour Crisis Hotline for Niagara County: (716) 285-3515 24-hour Addiction Hotline: (716) 831-7007 Kids' Helpline: (716) 834-1144 24-hour Crisis Text Line: Text “HELLO” to 741741 24-hour Crisis Text Line for Frontline Workers: Text “FRONTLINENY” to 741741 TTY: 711 If you would like to reach us regarding Community Conversations episodes or would like to learn more about our services in WNY, you can contact Kaelyn.Gates@lung.org. Make sure to follow our social media accounts at Fight For Air Climb Buffalo, LUNG FORCE Walk Buffalo and Fight For Air Climb Rochester!

Join us for our conversation today with Dr. Raja Cheruvu, a board certified radiologist and specializes in Neuroradiology and Cross-Sectional Imaging at Windsong Radiology as we celebrate Lung Cancer Awareness Month! Our conversation will focus on the importance of lung cancer screening, new and improved screening guidelines, smoking cessation, lung cancer prevention and report on local lung cancer screening rates! There are many ways that you can help the Lung Association and our partners spread awareness of lung cancer during the month of November. Consider learning more about lung cancer, becoming a Lung Advocate, encouraging yourself or loved ones to quit smoking or check out other areas of our website at www.lung.org! To learn more about lung cancer screening and see if you are eligible, take our Lung Cancer Screening Eligibility Quiz on both the Lung Association website, or on Windsong Radiology's Website! To learn more about Windsong and their services, please head to www.windsongwny.com Follow us on Facebook at LUNG FORCE Walk Buffalo, Fight For Air Climb Buffalo, or Fight For Air Climb Rochester!

Today we have a follow-up conversations with Dr. Joseph Chow, Medical Director of WNY Immediate Care and President of TeamHealth Ambulatory Care. We talked to Dr. Chow about COVID-19 myths, symptoms and best practices back in January, and we all know that so much has changed since then with the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccines, lifted restrictions and new variants. During today's conversation we will learn some updates around the illness, the vaccines and how to protect ourselves during the upcoming flu season. It's still extremely important to receive your COVID-19 vaccine if you have not yet, and for those who are immunocompromised or have underlying health conditions, it is possible to start looking into receiving a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot. As Dr. Chow mentions, it is okay and recommended to receive your flu vaccination whether you have the COVID-19 vaccine, do not have it or will be getting both shots at the same time. COVID-19 Vaccine Information: Pfizer – FDA Approved, two shots 21 days apart Moderna – FDA Emergency Use Approved, two shots 28 days apart Johnson & Johnson – FDA Emergency Use Approved, one shot To schedule a COVID-19 or flu vaccination, or speak with a WNY Immediate Care Representative, please visit www.wnyimmediatecare.com To stay up to date on the latest vaccine information, please refer to the Lung Association's Vaccine Tracker. Are you or someone you know hesitant about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine? Download our Better For It Vaccine Toolkit to learn conversation starters, accurate information about the creation of the vaccines and more!

Respiratory diseases remain a significant health issue for firefighters and emergency responders who face increased exposure to gases, chemicals and smoke in the line of duty. Each year, over 250 local firefighters from paid and volunteer departments raise funds and participate in our Fight For Air Climb, racing the steps in full gear to raise critical awareness for occupational exposure and increased risk for lung disease in first responders. Firefighters should go through periodic lung function tests, or pulmonary function tests (PFTs), to ensure they are healthy enough to do their job safely and help identify early warning signs of lung disease. First responders have higher rates of many cancer types, including bladder, brain, colon, leukemia, lymphoma, non-hodgkin lymphoma, lung, kidney, melanoma, multiple myeloma, prostate and testis. The longer you're on the job, the greater your risk. Here to talk more about this today is Dr. Mary Reid, Chief of Cancer Screening, Survivorship and Mentorship at Roswell Park Comprehensive Care Center. To learn ways to keep your lungs protected as a Firefighter or First Responder, visit our resource page here. To read more about Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center's First Responder Lung Cancer Screening program, click here. You can also read a local article about How Firefighters can Reduce their Cancer Risk featuring Lackawanna Fire Department.

As COVID-19 has recently completed it's first year around sun in the USA, we have made many strides in research, treatments, prevention to help us continue to learn about this disease and work towards bringing COVID-19 to an end. Many questions have arose over this last year - what long-term effects are we seeing from COVID-19? How might certain populations be effected differently? Join us for our conversation today with Dr. Jennifer Walsh, Associate Medical Director of Independent Health as we share updates and findings around COVID-19 in our community. Check out our Better For It vaccine toolkit to take place at the forefront of vaccine education in minority populations. Independent Health is the Presenting Sponsor of the LUNG FORCE Walk Buffalo, which we are excited to announce is coming back in-person and taking place this year on Saturday, September 11th at Buffalo Harbor State Park! Register with your family, friends or workplace, and raise your voice against lung cancer and lung disease, and for lung health! Register at www.LUNGFORCE.org/buffalo

Cars, trucks and other forms of transportation are one of the biggest producers of air pollution in our country. Emissions from the transportation sector significantly contribute to ground-level ozone pollution (also called smog) and particle pollution, both of which are very harmful to health, and can even be deadly. Cars and trucks also emit carbon dioxide, which is one of the greenhouse gases responsible for driving climate change. Each year, the American Lung Association releases its State of the Air report, which shows that nearly half of Americans live in unhealthy environments. Tune in to today's episode to hear from two experts from our partners at Robert Basil Cadillac on all things electric vehicle! Electric Vehicles give off zero emissions, making them a safer alternative to gas and diesel fuel cars, trucks and busses. Besides environmental benefits, owning or leasing an electric vehicle can benefit you personally. EVs can be cheaper, less maintenance and more efficient! Take a listen and learn from Adam Beck, General Manager and Will Basil from the Management Training Program. The American Lung Association addresses the health threat of climate change and air pollution with clean transportation through our Electric Vehicle Solution. You can also read more on Clean Air Outdoors, Climate Change, Air Pollution and much more on our website. If you're interested in learning more about Electric Vehicles, would like to test drive one or receive more information, you can find contact information to your local Robert Basil Cadillac Dealership at www.robertbasilcadillac.com. To find more information on the NY State Drive Clean, click here! American Lung Association in Western New York social accounts: LUNG FORCE Walk Buffalo, Fight For Air Climb Buffalo, Fight For Air Climb Rochester. American Lung Association in Western New York - Community Conversations is sponsored by Independent Health.

Do you have asthma, or are not sure if you have asthma? Are you noticing asthma symptoms in your child, or not sure what to look for? Then this episode is for you! Join us for today's conversation where we hear from Dr. Jamie Wooldridge, Professor of Pediatric Pulmonology at the University of Rochester Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Wooldridge has worked with the Lung Association to implement Project BREATHE throughout Erie County in conjunction with the Asthma Coalition of Erie, Monroe and Niagara Counties. Asthma is one of the most common respiratory illnesses affecting over 26 million people annually, 6.1 million of those being children. Asthma results in millions of lost days of school and work, and is the third leading cause of hospitalization among children. Today you'll learn some more of the symptoms, the difference between controlled and uncontrolled asthma, asthma exacerbation triggers, emergency care for asthma and medications. Visit our website to find more information on asthma symptoms & risk factors, managing your asthma, asthma medications and treatments, and more. You can also find our Asthma Basics program - a learning module designed for healthcare professionals, school nurses, individuals with asthma, parents, coaches, teachers and friends to recognize triggers, understand an asthma action plan and recognize and respond to a breathing emergency.

The 2021 Fight For Air Climb Buffalo and the 2021 Fight For Air Climb Rochester are both happening this year at Highmark Stadium on May 22nd! Registration is still open through May 14th, and you can sign up at FightForAirClimb.org/Buffalo or for our Rochester folks, FightForAirClimb.org/Rochester. Recently we held our regional Climb Kick-Off event for some of our top fundraisers, where we featured stories from different Climbers around the region that have been affected by lung cancer and lung disease who shared why they climb . From IPF to lung cancer, asthma, COPD and more, we all have a different reason for supporting the Lung Association that's near and dear to our hearts, and we wanted to share them with you today! Today's conversation is our Why We Climb segment from our Climb Kick-Off event, we hope you enjoy! Make sure to follow our Fight For Air Climb Facebook account for more Why We Climb stories, and any updates about our event!

The 2021 Fight For Air Climb Buffalo and Fight For Air Climb Rochester are both taking place on May 22 at Highmark Stadium in Buffalo, NY! Right now registration is only $21 until Friday, April 9! We're excited for you all to meet our Development Director here in Buffalo, Kaelyn Gates, as she runs us through what the Fight For Air Climb Buffalo and Fight For Air Climb Rochester will look like this year with our first ever outdoor event. You'll also learn more about our Climb Your Way Climb21 challenge, why fundraising is so important, tips & tricks to hitting your fundraising goals, sneak peaks to our 2021 Fight For Air Climb prizes and incentives and much more! To climb with us on May 22nd, make sure to register for the Buffalo Climb or the Rochester Climb and raise $100 minimum! With any questions about the Fight For Air Climb Buffalo or Rochester event, call 716-271-6386 or email BuffaloClimb@lung.org

Feeding off of our last episode around tobacco products and associated health risk factors, this episode we introduce to you Anthony Billoni, Program Director of Tobacco Free WNY and Jenna Brinkworth, lead of WNY Anti-Vaping Coalition to discuss advocacy, policy and tobacco industry related issues around tobacco control. We have already discussed the importance of quitting cigarettes and e-cigarettes, however we do know that not everybody smokes - and some of our listeners may be wondering why it's so important to continue research and advocacy in this area. Trends in tobacco products effect our entire community at a population level, by targeting certain demographics and opening that door to addiction, damaging our air and our earth, and reaching us or our children on a secondhand or thirdhand level sometimes in our homes or even schools. Over the last several decades, organizations in communities across the nation have worked hard to reverse the prevalence of tobacco and nicotine, increase cessation and prevent the onset of smoking in youth and adults. Listen along today as we focus on New York state tobacco regulation over the years and look to the future, including ways to advocate for tighter tobacco control such as smoke-free air law and tobacco sales, why tobacco control is necessary, the rise of e-cigarettes, what parents should know about smoking and teens, tobacco industry advertising and targeting youth and much more! The American Lung Association is committed to ending the death and disease caused by tobacco use. We encourage everyone to view our State of Tobacco Control state highlights for NY state to learn more about cessation funding & services, smoke-free air laws, taxes and flavored tobacco products in our area. To learn more about Lung Association work in tobacco control, check out our tobacco initiatives. Help us End the Youth Vaping Epidemic by educating ourselves on e-cigarettes, spreading awareness of these harmful products, and becoming involved in our Vape Free Schools Initiatives. You can also learn more about the dangers of e-cigarettes and how to spot vaping in your children to ensure healthy lives for all. Make sure to give us a follow on Facebook at LUNG FORCE Walk Buffalo, Fight For Air Climb Buffalo and Fight For Air Climb Rochester!

Millions of people in today's world are still smoking tobacco and nicotine every day. Although traditional cigarette smoking rates are on the decline - thanks to our strong policy, education and cessation efforts, the rate of e-cigarette smoking is rapidly increasing, especially in our youth. When inhaled, smoke from cigarettes and e-cigarettes touches nearly every organ in your body, leading to adverse, severe and even deadly health effects including lung cancer, heart disease, COPD, stroke and many other health outcomes. Today we'll cover local prevalence, risk factors, secondhand smoke, disproportionate smoking rates, facts about e-cigarettes, vaping trends, current e-cigarette studies and imperative research, and more. We will have two guest speakers joining us today, Dr. Andrew Hyland discussing tobacco health effects and trends, and Dr. Maciej Goniewicz sharing e-cigarette facts and research, both from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Make sure to tune in for our next episode as we continue our conversation around tobacco & vaping control in our communities, recent successes on a state and federal level, targeted marketing by the tobacco industry to youth and minority populations, and ways to advocate for current policy topics! If you are interested in learning more about the WNY Center for Research on Flavored Tobacco E-Cigarette Flavor Study or would like to become a participant, please visit the CROFT website. The American Lung Association has many tips for quitting smoking including resources on benefits of quitting, how to help a friend quit, health risks of smoking, and more as well as our cessation services for adults including our Freedom From Smoking program. Additionally, you can find information on e-cigarettes including information for both parents and teens, as well as cessation tools for communities and schools such as our Not on Tobacco Program and INDEPTH Program - both which are a part of our Vape Free Schools Initiative. Make sure to follow us on Facebook at LUNG FORCE Walk, Fight For Air Climb Buffalo and Fight For Air Climb Rochester - and reach out to Alexis.Gigliello@lung.org with any questions!

Have you heard of the term “sleep apnea” but never quite understood what it entails? Have you ever noticed sleep patterns such as snoring or abnormal breathing in your partner, family or friends? Maybe you have even been told that you exhibit some of the symptoms described in this episode! We want to shed some light on the stigma around sleep apnea and being treated with oxygen - because as you will find out during this episode, it's extremely important that those with symptoms, do go visit their doctor and receive appropriate treatment. Listen to our interview with Dr. Archana Mishra, Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine , at the Jacobs School of Medicine, University at Buffalo, as she dives into the health effects and risks of sleep apnea, describes symptoms, identifies high-risk individuals, covers treatment options and more! You can learn more about sleep apnea types, symptoms and questions to ask your doctor - please visit Lung.org/sleep-apnea, and can learn more about Dr. Archana Mishra at http://medicine.buffalo.edu/faculty/profile.html?ubit=amishra. Make sure to follow us on Facebook at LUNG FORCE Walk Buffalo, Fight For Air Climb Buffalo and Fight For Air Climb Rochester, and email Alexis.Gigliello@lung.org with any questions or feedback!

Do you have questions about the COVID-19 Vaccine? Are you feeling confused, nervous or just interested in learning more about the process? You are not alone! That's why we're bringing you the facts - from our partners at Buffalo Medical Group who are receiving, disseminating and following the science behind the COVID-19 vaccine. Join us as we interview Dr. Robert Zielinski, Associate Medical Director of Buffalo Medical Group Associate Medical Director of Buffalo Medical Group, a practicing medical oncologist and a Lung Association Leadership Board Member, as we cover common questions such as - what is the vaccine made out of? How does it actually help protect me? Can I get COVID-19 from the vaccine? What was the approval process for the vaccine? and so much more! We'll also dive into implications for the future including wearing masks, herd immunity and the vaccination timeline. If you haven't yet - check out the Lung Association's Vaccine Tracker! A one-stop platform for all of your vaccine FAQ's, what's been approved, roll-out phases and what's coming down the pipeline, updated all in real time. To read more about Dr. Zielinski and his practice, click here! Make sure to keep in touch with our team by joining our Facebook pages at LUNG FORCE Walk Buffalo, Fight for Air Climb Buffalo and Fight For Air Climb Rochester!

Help us kick-off our second season focused on lung disease trends, risk factors and commonalities in the WNY and local area by going behind the scenes of COVID-19 with Dr. Joseph Chow; Medical Director of WNY Immediate Care and President of TeamHealth Ambulatory Care! In this episode, we'll be starting from the beginning - taking a look at how one of our most popular WNY area medical centers was affected during the initial COVID outbreak. We will also be discussing everything that we have learned from there on by addressing rumors, describing what your "bubble" actually looks like and ways to stay safe and distanced, going over the common and unique symptoms that have been scientifically connected to COVID, the best ways to get tested, a look into our future with the COVID vaccine, and so much more! Visit this link to learn more about Dr. Chow and his work in the field! WNY Immediate Care has locations in Amherst, Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Orchard Park and Williamsville. To schedule a COVID test at WNY Immediate Care, visit: www.wnyimmediatecare.com/covid-19 You can also visit www.wnyimmediatecare.com/urgent-care-services for a full list of WNY Immediate Care services for patients in the community that are not related to COVID-19. With questions or to make an appointment, please select the nearest location and call the number listed. Make sure to join our LUNG FORCE Walk Facebook Group for episode releases, initiative updates and to see what we're doing in the area! With any questions, feedback, or episode suggestions - please email BuffaloWalk@lung.org. The LUNG FORCE Podcast is sponsored by Independent Health, a not-for-profit health plan that continually aims to provide our community with innovative health-related products and services, which enable affordable access to quality health care.

This week we will finish up our very first season of the LUNG FORCE Podcast Series by bringing you a conversation around an exciting topic and something you may not have heard of before - targeted therapies! Listen in as we hear from AstraZeneca Oncology representative, LUNG FORCE Committee Member and new Leadership Board Member, Paul Gorman on testing and treatment options and advancements! During this episode, we'll learn about the importance of molecular testing and the ins-and-outs of targeted therapies (treatments in the form of a pill that work on specific cancer mutations) including who is eligible for a targeted therapy treatment. It's so important to keep educating, funding and performing research around testing and treatment - and this episode is just one example why! Learn more about AstraZeneca Oncology and their areas of expertise by visiting www.astrazeneca.com. As always, make sure to follow the LUNG FORCE Walk Buffalo Facebook Group for updates and information, and reach out to BuffaloWalk@lung.org for questions or to get in touch!

This month, we're talking lung cancer screening with Windsong Radiology - a designated Lung Cancer Screening Center by the American College of Radiology and a dedicated LUNG FORCE partner. Listen to hear one of our Leadership Board Members, Gina Fedele, as she informs us on the importance of lung cancer screening, high-risk criteria for free screening, lung cancer symptoms and concerns to bring up to your physician, the quick & painless procedure itself (low-dose CT scan) and her family's experience with lung disease. You can visit www.windsongwny.com to view more FAQ's and for a reminder of free lung cancer screening requirements. You can also find further information on lung cancer screening insurance questions on the American Lung Association's Lung Cancer Screening Insurance Checklist. Make sure to follow Windsong Radiology's Facebook page at Windsong Radiology Group PC, or if you would like to speak with somebody on their team, please call 716-631-2500. As always, you can get in touch with the Lung Association team by following our Facebook page at LUNG FORCE Walk Buffalo, or by emailing BuffaloWalk@lung.org!

Tune in to our second LUNG FORCE Walk Podcast Episode featuring one of our top fundraiser's and LUNG FORCE Walk Committee Co-Chair, Kristine Koenig as she talks about her passion towards raising awareness around lung cancer, her family's personal connection to lung cancer and her experiences and her goals for LUNG FORCE in the future! From Rochester, NY Kristine uses her voice and dedication to help LUNG FORCE reach further throughout WNY, and in this episode - you will find out why. We are always looking to grow our reach and give people the community and support that LUNG FORCE offers. If you're interested in becoming involved with LUNG FORCE from the Buffalo or Rochester area - or beyond, please reach out to BuffaloWalk@lung.org! Make sure to visit us on Facebook at LUNG FORCE Walk Buffalo and our website at http://LUNGFORCE.org/Buffalo.

Join us as we speak with LUNG FORCE Hero and founder of Take a Breath for Life Foundation - Michelle McMahon! Learn with us what lung cancer can feel like in it's early stages, what pieces of your journey are important to share with your doctor, a clinical trial success story and information about the 11th annual Take a Breath for Life 5K race! The Take a Breath for Life Foundation raises funds and awareness for lung cancer research. Usually taking place at the Erie County Fairgrounds as a certified 5K, the race is taking a virtual form this year! Race where you are from November 1st - November 15th and consider donating to an important cause! Funds from this year's race will support the American Lung Association. Registration is $15, and the first 25 people who register before October 31st will earn an official event t-shirt! Register at https://takeabreathforlife5k.itsyourrace.com/register/. Visit them on Facebook or Instagram at @TakeaBreathforLife or on their website, Takeabreathforlife.org. The LUNG FORCE Podcast Series is sponsored by our Presenting Sponsor, Independent Health! Visit them at IndependentHealth.org