More than 200,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer nationwide each year. The challenge was finding people who were well enough to commit to coming in on a certain day to participate.” “Brad wanted to go as far as we could with this story. “The goal was to raise people’s awareness and try to get more funding for research for lung cancer. “I think Brad’s intent was to bring worldwide attention to lung cancer,” said supervising producer Rhonda Friedman.

The story was written by executive producer and head writer Bradley Bell. “It was warm and wonderful,” Weitz said of his time on “The Bold and The Beautiful.” “The producers and actors made us feel very welcome.” Weitz was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2006. Michael Weitz, a nonsmoker, also appears on the show. She befriends patients and survivors and they talk about the lack of support groups, treatment and hope. Stephanie has been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Joosten and other lung-cancer patients and survivors portray themselves in an episode that involves character Stephanie Forrester, played by Susan Flannery. A former smoker, she is now cancer-free after battling it on two occasions. “Bold and the Beautiful” is seen by an estimated 35 million people in 100 countries, and the show’s producers and writers hope the episode will spur efforts to raise money for lung cancer research.ĭiagnosed with lung cancer about a decade ago, Joosten will appear on the 6,000th episode of the daytime soap opera on Monday. This gives us an … opportunity to be heard,” said actress Kathryn Joosten of “Desperate Housewives” and “West Wing” fame. “It’s been so difficult getting out the message about lung cancer. While lung cancer traditionally has afflicted tobacco users, up to 60 percent of new diagnoses are for nonsmokers and those who have quit for 10 years or more. Hoping to spotlight an illness that comes up short in fundraising efforts due to its association with cigarette smokers, lung cancer survivors will appear on “The Bold and the Beautiful” to dramatize the frustrations shared by sufferers of the disease.

The message is bold, and if it gets through to the millions of people it’s targeting, it could be beautiful.

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