based upon current statistics if 100 of us were diagnosed with lung cancer today
us were diagnosed with lung cancer today
us were diagnosed with lung cancer today only 15 of us would live I know this
only 15 of us would live I know this
only 15 of us would live I know this because I am a lung cancer survivor I am
because I am a lung cancer survivor I am
because I am a lung cancer survivor I am nine years cancer-free this month and
nine years cancer-free this month and
nine years cancer-free this month and the kicker is I never smoked a day in my
the kicker is I never smoked a day in my
the kicker is I never smoked a day in my life
it is now my mission to increase lung
it is now my mission to increase lung cancer awareness to save lungs and lives
cancer awareness to save lungs and lives
cancer awareness to save lungs and lives to give hope to all people diagnosed
to give hope to all people diagnosed
to give hope to all people diagnosed with cancer in 2008 I received a phone
with cancer in 2008 I received a phone
with cancer in 2008 I received a phone call that changed the course of my life
call that changed the course of my life
call that changed the course of my life for 35 years I worked as a flight
for 35 years I worked as a flight
for 35 years I worked as a flight attendant for Northwest Airlines I was
attendant for Northwest Airlines I was
attendant for Northwest Airlines I was preparing to depart for Amsterdam when
preparing to depart for Amsterdam when
preparing to depart for Amsterdam when my flight physician returned requested
my flight physician returned requested
my flight physician returned requested that I return to Mayo Clinic immediately
that I return to Mayo Clinic immediately
that I return to Mayo Clinic immediately in Rochester Minnesota because of the
in Rochester Minnesota because of the
in Rochester Minnesota because of the results of a recent CT scan just days
results of a recent CT scan just days
results of a recent CT scan just days before I was cross-country skiing here
before I was cross-country skiing here
before I was cross-country skiing here in Big Sky from our home up to the
in Big Sky from our home up to the
in Big Sky from our home up to the resort I was racing my husband and this
resort I was racing my husband and this
resort I was racing my husband and this other guy would call the animal two
other guy would call the animal two
other guy would call the animal two years earlier while greeting passengers
years earlier while greeting passengers
years earlier while greeting passengers boarding my flight in Japan I started to
boarding my flight in Japan I started to
boarding my flight in Japan I started to choke so uncontrollably I honestly
choke so uncontrollably I honestly
choke so uncontrollably I honestly thought I was going to die due to my
thought I was going to die due to my
thought I was going to die due to my international flight schedule I thought
international flight schedule I thought
international flight schedule I thought I might have contracted SARS or TB my
I might have contracted SARS or TB my
I might have contracted SARS or TB my physicians in Montana found nothing the
physicians in Montana found nothing the
physicians in Montana found nothing the choking cough the back the shoulder pain
choking cough the back the shoulder pain
choking cough the back the shoulder pain persisted as a matter of fact we bought
persisted as a matter of fact we bought
persisted as a matter of fact we bought three new mattresses my husband bought
three new mattresses my husband bought
three new mattresses my husband bought stock in a mattress company following
stock in a mattress company following
stock in a mattress company following that phone call from my male clinic
that phone call from my male clinic
that phone call from my male clinic flight physician I found myself in the
flight physician I found myself in the
flight physician I found myself in the pulmonary Department and time froze as I
pulmonary Department and time froze as I
pulmonary Department and time froze as I looked at the wall plastered with my CT
looked at the wall plastered with my CT
looked at the wall plastered with my CT scans and the doctors said you have lung
scans and the doctors said you have lung
scans and the doctors said you have lung cancer I snapped at him doctor you have
cancer I snapped at him doctor you have
cancer I snapped at him doctor you have the wrong person I never smoked I rushed
the wrong person I never smoked I rushed
the wrong person I never smoked I rushed to the medical library only to discover
to the medical library only to discover
to the medical library only to discover information about never smokers and lung
information about never smokers and lung
information about never smokers and lung cancer was very very minimal I soon
cancer was very very minimal I soon
cancer was very very minimal I soon learned that if you have lungs you can
learned that if you have lungs you can
learned that if you have lungs you can get lung cancer
my surgeon asked when can we schedule
my surgeon asked when can we schedule your lung surgery I said how about in
your lung surgery I said how about in
your lung surgery I said how about in three months I have a seasoned ski pass
three months I have a seasoned ski pass
three months I have a seasoned ski pass my husband intervened she’s in shock
my husband intervened she’s in shock
my husband intervened she’s in shock when can you operate 48 hours later I
when can you operate 48 hours later I
when can you operate 48 hours later I was breathing with the help of a heart
was breathing with the help of a heart
was breathing with the help of a heart and lung machine while a team of male
and lung machine while a team of male
and lung machine while a team of male surgeons removed a three-centimeter
surgeons removed a three-centimeter
surgeons removed a three-centimeter tumor and most of my left lung
tumor and most of my left lung
tumor and most of my left lung having your lung removed is like
having your lung removed is like
having your lung removed is like suffocating following the surgery my
suffocating following the surgery my
suffocating following the surgery my husband stood by my bedside for five
husband stood by my bedside for five
husband stood by my bedside for five hours and said breathe breathe breathe
hours and said breathe breathe breathe
hours and said breathe breathe breathe in the hospital rehab center I was
in the hospital rehab center I was
in the hospital rehab center I was pedaling a bicycle
the physical therapist said now let’s
the physical therapist said now let’s begin nicotine rehab barely able to
begin nicotine rehab barely able to
begin nicotine rehab barely able to speak I said nicotine rehab the
speak I said nicotine rehab the
speak I said nicotine rehab the therapist said do you want your medical
therapist said do you want your medical
therapist said do you want your medical bills paid I said this is crazy you know
bills paid I said this is crazy you know
bills paid I said this is crazy you know I never smoked and I know smoking is
I never smoked and I know smoking is
I never smoked and I know smoking is deadly as much as I resented this
deadly as much as I resented this
deadly as much as I resented this insurance requirement I learned that
insurance requirement I learned that
insurance requirement I learned that nicotine is the most addictive substance
nicotine is the most addictive substance
nicotine is the most addictive substance on the planet and lung cancer is the
on the planet and lung cancer is the
on the planet and lung cancer is the number one cancer killer in both the
number one cancer killer in both the
number one cancer killer in both the u.s. and worldwide nine years ago today
u.s. and worldwide nine years ago today
u.s. and worldwide nine years ago today oncology sent me home with a paced
oncology sent me home with a paced
oncology sent me home with a paced breathing app and a stress-free living
breathing app and a stress-free living
breathing app and a stress-free living workbook that taught me how to become
workbook that taught me how to become
workbook that taught me how to become mindful of how to breathe because with
mindful of how to breathe because with
mindful of how to breathe because with one lung living at 6,500 feet it hurt to
one lung living at 6,500 feet it hurt to
one lung living at 6,500 feet it hurt to move I couldn’t even bend over but by
move I couldn’t even bend over but by
move I couldn’t even bend over but by diligently following the prescribed
diligently following the prescribed
diligently following the prescribed paced breathing guidance from my breath
paced breathing guidance from my breath
paced breathing guidance from my breath app
app
app I was able to accept my cancer diagnosis
I was able to accept my cancer diagnosis
I was able to accept my cancer diagnosis tell my body to resist cancer and live a
tell my body to resist cancer and live a
tell my body to resist cancer and live a great quality of life one day my husband
great quality of life one day my husband
great quality of life one day my husband put my cross-country ski boots on my
put my cross-country ski boots on my
put my cross-country ski boots on my feet and said you belong outside let’s
feet and said you belong outside let’s
feet and said you belong outside let’s go it took me one hour to barely move
go it took me one hour to barely move
go it took me one hour to barely move 200 feet on a familiar cross-country
200 feet on a familiar cross-country
200 feet on a familiar cross-country trail but every day we went outside and
trail but every day we went outside and
trail but every day we went outside and cross-country ski even though it hurt to
cross-country ski even though it hurt to
cross-country ski even though it hurt to breathe because just sitting made the
breathe because just sitting made the
breathe because just sitting made the pain worse I was never a runner prior to
pain worse I was never a runner prior to
pain worse I was never a runner prior to lung cancer I hated running 3 years
lung cancer I hated running 3 years
lung cancer I hated running 3 years after surgery to prove there is quality
after surgery to prove there is quality
after surgery to prove there is quality of life after cancer I decided to test
of life after cancer I decided to test
of life after cancer I decided to test my endurance by running my first race
my endurance by running my first race
my endurance by running my first race for a little girl with cancer another
for a little girl with cancer another
for a little girl with cancer another woman came up to me and asked me how
woman came up to me and asked me how
woman came up to me and asked me how long have you been running I said I’ve
long have you been running I said I’ve
long have you been running I said I’ve been running 15 minutes she said really
been running 15 minutes she said really
been running 15 minutes she said really you sound scary and you breathe really
you sound scary and you breathe really
you sound scary and you breathe really weird so I passed her and I finished
weird so I passed her and I finished
weird so I passed her and I finished second in my age group then 2013 I was
second in my age group then 2013 I was
second in my age group then 2013 I was selling my 5 celebrating my 5 year
selling my 5 celebrating my 5 year
selling my 5 celebrating my 5 year anniversary by running a 5k race in
anniversary by running a 5k race in
anniversary by running a 5k race in every state I received a letter from my
every state I received a letter from my
every state I received a letter from my life insurance company saying they’d
life insurance company saying they’d
life insurance company saying they’d cashed my check I called them because I
cashed my check I called them because I
cashed my check I called them because I had not yet received my life insurance
had not yet received my life insurance
had not yet received my life insurance policy when I spoke with the actuaries
policy when I spoke with the actuaries
policy when I spoke with the actuaries they said your life insurance been
they said your life insurance been
they said your life insurance been canceled according to statistics you
canceled according to statistics you
canceled according to statistics you should be dead this really made me very
should be dead this really made me very
should be dead this really made me very very mad so I set a new goal this time
very mad so I set a new goal this time
very mad so I set a new goal this time to run a 10k race in every continent by
to run a 10k race in every continent by
to run a 10k race in every continent by August this past year I had completed
August this past year I had completed
August this past year I had completed three of seven continents then I
three of seven continents then I
three of seven continents then I received another phone call from Mayo
received another phone call from Mayo
received another phone call from Mayo Clinic this time it was dr. Bruce
Clinic this time it was dr. Bruce
Clinic this time it was dr. Bruce Johnson from the human physiology
Johnson from the human physiology
Johnson from the human physiology research lab he was inviting
research lab he was inviting
research lab he was inviting husband and I to participate in the kill
husband and I to participate in the kill
husband and I to participate in the kill II heart climb on Mount Kilimanjaro in
II heart climb on Mount Kilimanjaro in
II heart climb on Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa this was an aging and altitude
Africa this was an aging and altitude
Africa this was an aging and altitude research study led by none other than
research study led by none other than
research study led by none other than Montana’s own world-famous Mountaineer
Montana’s own world-famous Mountaineer
Montana’s own world-famous Mountaineer Conrad Anker my husband suffers from
Conrad Anker my husband suffers from
Conrad Anker my husband suffers from altitude sickness and they really wanted
altitude sickness and they really wanted
altitude sickness and they really wanted him for this research climb but he
him for this research climb but he
him for this research climb but he decided being a high-altitude guinea pig
decided being a high-altitude guinea pig
decided being a high-altitude guinea pig just was not for him I jumped at the
just was not for him I jumped at the
just was not for him I jumped at the chance I considered it a challenge and I
chance I considered it a challenge and I
chance I considered it a challenge and I flew to Kilimanjaro as one of 30 guinea
flew to Kilimanjaro as one of 30 guinea
flew to Kilimanjaro as one of 30 guinea pigs in the killing heart climb I
pigs in the killing heart climb I
pigs in the killing heart climb I suggest I subjected myself to sleeping
suggest I subjected myself to sleeping
suggest I subjected myself to sleeping downhill in a tent every night while
downhill in a tent every night while
downhill in a tent every night while climbing up to the summit of 19,000 341
climbing up to the summit of 19,000 341
climbing up to the summit of 19,000 341 feet during the day in route I needed to
feet during the day in route I needed to
feet during the day in route I needed to acclimate to adapt so I could meet my
acclimate to adapt so I could meet my
acclimate to adapt so I could meet my body’s demands for oxygen as I climbed
body’s demands for oxygen as I climbed
body’s demands for oxygen as I climbed heel-toe heel-toe to the summit of
heel-toe heel-toe to the summit of
heel-toe heel-toe to the summit of Kilimanjaro no longer a young babe and
Kilimanjaro no longer a young babe and
Kilimanjaro no longer a young babe and with the changes that this body has
with the changes that this body has
with the changes that this body has undergone due to natural aging I was
undergone due to natural aging I was
undergone due to natural aging I was being monitored with five different
being monitored with five different
being monitored with five different monitors and devices to help the
monitors and devices to help the
monitors and devices to help the hard-working researchers compare my body
hard-working researchers compare my body
hard-working researchers compare my body to the younger people in the group my
to the younger people in the group my
to the younger people in the group my temp mate was 23 and I was the eldest of
temp mate was 23 and I was the eldest of
temp mate was 23 and I was the eldest of all 160 participants my unique situation
all 160 participants my unique situation
all 160 participants my unique situation of having just one lung and one lung
of having just one lung and one lung
of having just one lung and one lung removed it gave me another potential
removed it gave me another potential
removed it gave me another potential limitation but living and playing here
limitation but living and playing here
limitation but living and playing here in Big Sky along with my sheer
in Big Sky along with my sheer
in Big Sky along with my sheer determination and my pace breathing got
determination and my pace breathing got
determination and my pace breathing got me to the top of the fourth tallest peak
me to the top of the fourth tallest peak
me to the top of the fourth tallest peak in the world I might add without any
in the world I might add without any
in the world I might add without any high altitude sickness or supplemental
high altitude sickness or supplemental
high altitude sickness or supplemental oxygen
oxygen
oxygen it also allowed me to be an example to
it also allowed me to be an example to
it also allowed me to be an example to everyone who challenged me by saying we
everyone who challenged me by saying we
everyone who challenged me by saying we really wish your husband was here I
really wish your husband was here I
really wish your husband was here I guess we have to watch you I had the
guess we have to watch you I had the
guess we have to watch you I had the feeling that many on the climb doubted
feeling that many on the climb doubted
feeling that many on the climb doubted that it could actually summit I will
that it could actually summit I will
that it could actually summit I will tell you this it was the hardest thing
tell you this it was the hardest thing
tell you this it was the hardest thing that I’ve ever done in my life the
that I’ve ever done in my life the
that I’ve ever done in my life the second being learning to breathe after
second being learning to breathe after
second being learning to breathe after lung cancer on the way down I saw a sign
lung cancer on the way down I saw a sign
lung cancer on the way down I saw a sign that read 10k and you’re out of
that read 10k and you’re out of
that read 10k and you’re out of Kilimanjaro park I took off running and
Kilimanjaro park I took off running and
Kilimanjaro park I took off running and passing everyone saying this is my
passing everyone saying this is my
passing everyone saying this is my African 10k you want to race guess who
African 10k you want to race guess who
African 10k you want to race guess who won one more continent done now dad I
won one more continent done now dad I
won one more continent done now dad I actually shows that cigarette smoking is
actually shows that cigarette smoking is
actually shows that cigarette smoking is on the decline
on the decline
on the decline but lung cancer is increasing the
but lung cancer is increasing the
but lung cancer is increasing the chances of dying after lung cancer
chances of dying after lung cancer
chances of dying after lung cancer diagnosis is 85% a statistic that really
diagnosis is 85% a statistic that really
diagnosis is 85% a statistic that really hasn’t changed since the 1970s lung
hasn’t changed since the 1970s lung
hasn’t changed since the 1970s lung cancer deaths will hit 1 billion people
cancer deaths will hit 1 billion people
cancer deaths will hit 1 billion people in this century and as I found the
in this century and as I found the
in this century and as I found the research is sorely lacking how many of
research is sorely lacking how many of
research is sorely lacking how many of you know that lung cancer takes more
you know that lung cancer takes more
you know that lung cancer takes more lives than colon breast and prostate
lives than colon breast and prostate
lives than colon breast and prostate cancers combined each year I ran a race
cancers combined each year I ran a race
cancers combined each year I ran a race with a 36 year old mother who survived
with a 36 year old mother who survived
with a 36 year old mother who survived lung cancer and together we ran a 5k
lung cancer and together we ran a 5k
lung cancer and together we ran a 5k race for a 20 year old Emory University
race for a 20 year old Emory University
race for a 20 year old Emory University student and soccer coach who was
student and soccer coach who was
student and soccer coach who was diagnosed with a tumor the size of a
diagnosed with a tumor the size of a
diagnosed with a tumor the size of a baseball in her thoracic sadly she died
baseball in her thoracic sadly she died
baseball in her thoracic sadly she died 2 days before her 21st birthday today in
2 days before her 21st birthday today in
2 days before her 21st birthday today in Tanzania there’s a three-year-old little
Tanzania there’s a three-year-old little
Tanzania there’s a three-year-old little girl who has lung cancer none of us ever
girl who has lung cancer none of us ever
girl who has lung cancer none of us ever smoked doctors all suspected we had
smoked doctors all suspected we had
smoked doctors all suspected we had asthma not lung cancer
lung cancer diagnosis really makes you
lung cancer diagnosis really makes you learn all about your lungs I’m sure we
learn all about your lungs I’m sure we
learn all about your lungs I’m sure we all know we should never smoke but my
all know we should never smoke but my
all know we should never smoke but my burning question for researchers is what
burning question for researchers is what
burning question for researchers is what other factors are causing this
other factors are causing this
other factors are causing this devastating loss of lungs and lives
devastating loss of lungs and lives
devastating loss of lungs and lives could be diet hormones our lifestyle and
could be diet hormones our lifestyle and
could be diet hormones our lifestyle and how can we grab the attention to make
how can we grab the attention to make
how can we grab the attention to make life-saving changes could it be by
life-saving changes could it be by
life-saving changes could it be by creating lung awareness with some lung
creating lung awareness with some lung
creating lung awareness with some lung fun facts lungs are one of the largest
fun facts lungs are one of the largest
fun facts lungs are one of the largest organs in your body
organs in your body
organs in your body they look like broccoli but they
they look like broccoli but they
they look like broccoli but they shouldn’t be green stretched out the
shouldn’t be green stretched out the
shouldn’t be green stretched out the lungs have the surface area of a tennis
lungs have the surface area of a tennis
lungs have the surface area of a tennis court we lose one half liter of water
court we lose one half liter of water
court we lose one half liter of water every day just to breathing on Mount
every day just to breathing on Mount
every day just to breathing on Mount Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro I drank 4 litres of water a day we
I drank 4 litres of water a day we
I drank 4 litres of water a day we breathe 15,000 to 20,000 times per day
breathe 15,000 to 20,000 times per day
breathe 15,000 to 20,000 times per day breathing in 2100 to 2,400 gallons of
breathing in 2100 to 2,400 gallons of
breathing in 2100 to 2,400 gallons of air each day and you can live with one
air each day and you can live with one
air each day and you can live with one lung you can run and you can climb with
lung you can run and you can climb with
lung you can run and you can climb with one lung unfortunately every
one lung unfortunately every
one lung unfortunately every two-and-a-half minutes another person is
two-and-a-half minutes another person is
two-and-a-half minutes another person is diagnosed with lung cancer
diagnosed with lung cancer
diagnosed with lung cancer 20% never smoked 40% our non-smokers it
20% never smoked 40% our non-smokers it
20% never smoked 40% our non-smokers it is now my life quest to spread awareness
is now my life quest to spread awareness
is now my life quest to spread awareness and talk openly about lung cancer in
and talk openly about lung cancer in
and talk openly about lung cancer in order to save lungs and lives because if
order to save lungs and lives because if
order to save lungs and lives because if lung cancer is caught before it spreads
lung cancer is caught before it spreads
lung cancer is caught before it spreads the likelihood of survival triples my
the likelihood of survival triples my
the likelihood of survival triples my husband and I founded Wortmann lung
husband and I founded Wortmann lung
husband and I founded Wortmann lung cancer Foundation a nonprofit focused on
cancer Foundation a nonprofit focused on
cancer Foundation a nonprofit focused on sponsoring running lungs races to raise
sponsoring running lungs races to raise
sponsoring running lungs races to raise awareness and support lung research to
awareness and support lung research to
awareness and support lung research to save lives we approached dr. Bruce
save lives we approached dr. Bruce
save lives we approached dr. Bruce Johnson at the Mayo Clinic human
Johnson at the Mayo Clinic human
Johnson at the Mayo Clinic human physiology laboratory to develop a
physiology laboratory to develop a
physiology laboratory to develop a longitudinal lungs healthy study that
longitudinal lungs healthy study that
longitudinal lungs healthy study that will create better understanding about
will create better understanding about
will create better understanding about the relationships between lifestyle
the relationships between lifestyle
the relationships between lifestyle environment genetics and lung health
environment genetics and lung health
environment genetics and lung health with an emphasis
with an emphasis
with an emphasis on nutrition and fitness the healthy
on nutrition and fitness the healthy
on nutrition and fitness the healthy lungs project will use devices we wore
lungs project will use devices we wore
lungs project will use devices we wore during the Kilimanjaro climb some were
during the Kilimanjaro climb some were
during the Kilimanjaro climb some were provided by Philips it will also
provided by Philips it will also
provided by Philips it will also integrate a growing number of new and
integrate a growing number of new and
integrate a growing number of new and developing technologies including my
developing technologies including my
developing technologies including my breath app the purpose of this study is
breath app the purpose of this study is
breath app the purpose of this study is to engage communities and participants
to engage communities and participants
to engage communities and participants like you of all ages and backgrounds and
like you of all ages and backgrounds and
like you of all ages and backgrounds and locations to enhance education about
locations to enhance education about
locations to enhance education about lung health lung cancer and pulmonary
lung health lung cancer and pulmonary
lung health lung cancer and pulmonary research while investigating the
research while investigating the
research while investigating the influence about the changes of lung
influence about the changes of lung
influence about the changes of lung function as we age and we would like to
function as we age and we would like to
function as we age and we would like to do this in a fun and educational way I
do this in a fun and educational way I
do this in a fun and educational way I would like to invite everyone to
would like to invite everyone to
would like to invite everyone to participate in the healthy lungs
participate in the healthy lungs
participate in the healthy lungs research project you can do this
research project you can do this
research project you can do this virtually or you can do it in person at
virtually or you can do it in person at
virtually or you can do it in person at a Runnings lung walk run or climb the
a Runnings lung walk run or climb the
a Runnings lung walk run or climb the study is also designated to have easier
study is also designated to have easier
study is also designated to have easier collaboration and sharing of information
collaboration and sharing of information
collaboration and sharing of information worldwide with investigators at Mayo
worldwide with investigators at Mayo
worldwide with investigators at Mayo Clinic who focus more specifically on
Clinic who focus more specifically on
Clinic who focus more specifically on lung health and lung cancer risk think
lung health and lung cancer risk think
lung health and lung cancer risk think about it the life and lungs you save
about it the life and lungs you save
about it the life and lungs you save could be your own together let’s blow
could be your own together let’s blow
could be your own together let’s blow cancer away thank you
cancer away thank you
cancer away thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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