Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Cancer Surgeon Wants Kentuckians to Understand Impact of Tobacco Related Deaths

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkyu/local-wkyu-953832.mp3

Louisville, Ky – Kentucky's lung cancer death rate is 45% higher than the national average. Dr. Victor VanBurkle wants Kentuckians to understand the impact tobacco-related cancers are having on the state. He's a surgeon with the James Graham Brown Cancer Center in Louisville. He says while cancer treatments have come a long way in recent years, the lung cancer death rate is essentially flat. That's because when most patients discover they have the disease, it's too late to save them.

Kevin is the News Director at WKU Public Radio. He has been with the station since 1999, and was previously the Assistant News Director, and also served as local host of Morning Edition.