Wesson’s Kim Whittington Speaks Out for Mississippi Lung Cancer Patients in D.C.

Kim Whittington of Wesson recently served as a guest speaker for the Mississippi Lung Cancer Roundtable (MSLCRT) monthly meeting.

Whittington was asked to present as a recent advocate who represented Mississippi in Washington D.C. at the nation’s capitol for Lung Force Advocacy Day.

Whittington spoke to 89 attendees from across the Southeastern U.S.

“I shared about my trip and how I met with senators and representatives about our three asks, which were to fund the CDC, NIH (National Institute of Health) and Medicaid expansion – especially for lung cancer screenings to reduce cancer rates in our state,” said Whittington.

MSLCRT is a community and medical forum that emphasizes the importance of working collectively to reduce lung cancer incidence and mortality in Mississippi through screenings, early detection, education, and communication.

Over the last 30 years, the cancer death rate in the United States (US) has dropped by 33%, translating to 4.1 million fewer cancer deaths during that time. However, people are still suffering, alarming disparities persist, and – for the first time – more than 2 million new cases of cancer in the US were expected to be diagnosed in 2024.

The truth is that while many organizations are working to improve the lives of people facing cancer, no one organization can tackle this burden alone. 

Through its National Roundtables, the American Cancer Society (ACS) brings diverse organizations and communities together in collaborative partnerships to advance solutions that move us closer to ending cancer as we know it, for everyone.

“Thanks to increased outreach efforts, early detection and advancements in treatment, we are seeing survival rates rising significantly. That’s the good news. It takes a lot of people to change things, I’m learning. Who wants to help?” said Whittington.

Anyone can register for the 4th Annual MSLCRT Meeting November 7-8 at the Flowood Sheraton. The meeting will be a great opportunity to learn more and get involved in this fight against lung cancer in Mississippi. Questions go to amy.ellis@cancer.org.