The Doctors: The Great Lung Run Across America – Lung Cancer Awareness

The Doctors: 80% of New Lung Cancer Patients Never Smoked or Quit Decades Ago

Did you know that your lungs help you breathe 11,000 liters of air each day? According to The Doctors TV show, there is a scary new trend with lung cancer: 80% of newly diagnosed patients either never smoked or stopped smoking decades ago.

Dr. Lisa Masterson said that female lung cancer has jumped in the last decade from 16% to 24.4%. She said the reasons for this are secondhand smoke, women starting to smoke and air pollution.

Exhaust fumes from diesel engines are now being classified as carcinogenic. Lung cancer is still the number one cancer killer.

The Doctors: The Great Lung Run

Kelcey Harrison launched the What Can You Do With Your Lungs? campaign after her friend Jill died from lung cancer when she was only in her 20s. She is running from New York City to San Francisco to build awareness about lung cancer and calls it “The Great Lung Run.”

Kelcey called into The Doctors and said she ran about 20 miles that day but had to cut it short because of the show. She averages 30 miles of day.

Raising Lung Cancer Awareness with The Great Lung Run

Jill passed away in June 2010, right after they graduated from college. After a few years of living in New York City, she decided that she needed to do something to honor Jill and help fight against lung cancer. She’s currently in Arkansas City, Kansas, which is just about halfway.

She said she usually eats a lot after her run, and it’s the best part of her day. She follows this with an ice bath and a shower. She said that her body has been incredible and she knocks on wood every day. Learn more about Kelcey and The Great Lung Run in the video below.