The history of lung cancer awareness month (LCAM) exemplifies the famous quote by Margaret Mead that states: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” What started out as an idea from a physician with lung cancer and an educator committed to helping people with the disease now takes a big leap forward. Working with like-minded partners around the world, that next chapter for change starts now.

Here’s what happened—and why and how we’re working with our partners to further expand Lung Cancer Awareness Month into a global movement for change.

The evolution of a campaign.

The predecessor organization to GO2 for Lung Cancer, the Alliance for Lung Cancer Advocacy, Support and Education (ALCASE) launched the first Lung Cancer Awareness Day on November 14, 1998. The event was planned to coincide with the American Cancer Society’s annual Great American Smokeout to engage the community in educating others and providing compassion and support while addressing the unjust stigma head-on.

Two years later, in November 2000, ALCASE expanded the annual effort and the first Lung Cancer Awareness Month was launched nationally to galvanize the community to take action and increase awareness and support for the disease. Over 20 years later, LCAM reaches 20 million people every year across the U.S. and beyond.

“What started out over 20 years ago as a ripple has grown into a tidal wave of awareness,” said Laurie Fenton Ambrose, GO2 for Lung Cancer Co-founder, President and CEO.

Taking LCAM global.

While LCAM started as a U.S. campaign, lung cancer is a global disease—one that kills over 2.2 million people annually around the world.

In 2016, to broaden awareness about global lung cancer, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) launched the LCAM Coalition to engage a worldwide community of healthcare providers, researchers, and patients. This year, IASLC passed stewardship of the LCAM Coalition to GO2 for Lung Cancer.

The mission of the LCAM Coalition is to bring together a global coalition to transform lung cancer survival by amplifying the conversation and the importance of early detection, treatment, and research. Essentially, the aim is to do for lung cancer awareness globally what that first Lung Cancer Awareness Day did to educate and support the community in the U.S.

“In our increasingly connected world, it is only natural that we would now elevate awareness about lung cancer to a global platform, said Fenton Ambrose. “By acting locally and impacting globally, we can transform survival.”

In preparation for LCAM 2021, we’ve been working behind the scenes to make updates, including building a library of shareable content, and launching a digital media campaign to amplify the global conversation around the disease.

The LCAM Coalition and our partners around the world are preparing to share the facts and ignite dialogue about the disease to increase understanding, stimulate research funding, and advocate for new and better treatment options that are accessible for all. We invite patient advocacy organizations from around the world to join us. As an individual, you can also help by adding your voice and sharing the infographics found here throughout the year and specifically during Lung Cancer Awareness Month this November. For more information about the global LCAM Coalition, visit www.lcam.org.

Thanks to our LCAM Coalition sponsors for their generous support: Amgen, Merck, Genentech, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Novocure, Guardant Health, Lilly Oncology, AstraZeneca, Mirati, Takeda Oncology, Regeneron and Sanofi Genzyme.