Stage 4 patient tells cancer: That's enough

For years, Dawn Sears sought success as a country music recording artist, but now the Gallatin resident along with cancer researchers finds herself in search of a cure.

Last year, the former Warner Brothers Records and Decca Records recording artist was diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer, which soon progressed to stage 4. It was Sears' diagnosis, along with the seemingly constant stream of friends, family and acquaintances with cancer that led the 52-year-old to organize a benefit concert to raise money for research.

Headlined by country music superstar Reba McEntire, "Dawn Sears and Friends" will be held Nov. 30 at Depot Square in Gallatin. Proceeds from the event will go to fund cancer research at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.

"Every time I turn around somebody I know has cancer of some kind, and I just got tired of hearing it," said Sears, who has been a background singer for Vince Gill for 22 years and a member of The Time Jumpers for more than a decade. "This is my way of fighting back. I'm very blessed to have such notable friends that are willing to come and help me put this on."

In addition to McEntire, the benefit will also feature performances by The Time Jumpers and Riders In The Sky. Olympic gold medal winning figure skater Scott Hamilton, a cancer survivor himself, will emcee the event.

Doctor: Research underfunded

This year, The National Cancer Institute estimates that 224,210 new cases and 159,260 deaths from lung cancer will occur.

Each year, more people die from the disease than colon cancer, prostate cancer and pancreatic cancer combined, said Dr. Leora Horn, associate professor of medicine and clinical director of Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center's Thoracic Oncology Program.

"Lung cancer research is so underfunded for the number of cases and the number of deaths that we have each year, so money for a benefit like this is incredible for our cancer center," said Horn, who will also speak at the benefit concert. "We're not only focused on diagnosis and prevention of lung cancer, but we also want to focus on treatments and figure out why some work and some don't."

Sears receives chemotherapy treatments every three weeks at Vanderbilt.

"Right now it looks like the one I'm on is working fairly well," Sears said. "It's kicking my butt, but it's working fairly well. What I really need is a miracle through. That's what I've been praying for."

Getting the message out

Despite being the second most common form of cancer, Horn said the reason for low lung cancer funding is likely due to the stigma it has to things like smoking. While a majority of lung cancer cases are linked to tobacco, there is a growing number of patients being diagnosed with the disease each year that have never smoked a cigarette in their life.

About 15 percent of new cases or more than 30,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer in the U.S. each year despite never smoking in their life, said Horn.

"We don't know all of the causes," Horn said. "We know radon is a common cause of lung cancer in never smokers, but we don't know all of the reason why never smokers get lung cancer but also why not every smoker will get lung cancer either."

While treatments are getting better, the only cure for lung cancer is surgery in the early stages or a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy in the advanced stages, Horn said. At five years after diagnosis, only about 16 percent of lung cancer patients are still alive, according to Vanderbilt.

"(The concert) is not just about the funding," Horn said. "It's getting the message out and making people more aware of lung cancer, what the disease is and what it means."

While Sears has not been able to sing since June and it can be hard for her to breathe at times, she continues to work about three weeks each month at Skinsation, a business she owns in Goodlettsville.

"The biggest thing that I've learned is that big houses and cars and all the toys don't matter," Sears said. "What matters are the people in your life — family and friends. The fellowship between human beings is so much more important than stuff."

Reach Josh Cross at 615-575-7115.

If you go

What: Dawn Sears and Friends benefit concert

When: Nov. 30

Where: Depot Square in Gallatin

Cost: $150 for general admission and $250 for VIP. All tickets include a goodie bag, buffet and drinks.

Tickets: www.dawnsearsandfriends.com