Rite Aid Founder Alex Grass, 82, Dies from Lung Cancer

Alex Gras started what later became Rite Aid in Scranton, PA in 1962 and it eventually became one of the largest drug store chains in the U.S. Mr. Grass was also a philanthropist who contribute millions of dollars to various civic, health and educational organizations.

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. It is a leading cause of cancer death in men and women in the United States. Cigarette smoking causes most lung cancers. The more cigarettes you smoke per day and the earlier you started smoking, the greater your risk of lung cancer. High levels of pollution, radiation and asbestos exposure may also increase risk.

Common symptoms of lung cancer include:

• A cough that doesn’t go away and gets worse over time
• Constant chest pain
• Coughing up blood
• Shortness of breath, wheezing, or hoarseness
• Repeated problems with pneumonia or bronchitis
• Swelling of the neck and face
• Loss of appetite or weight loss
• Fatigue

There are many types of lung cancer. Each type of lung cancer grows and spreads in different ways and is treated differently. Treatment also depends on the stage, or how advanced it is. Treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.

The U.S. spends about
$1.4 billion per year on research on lung diseases and there are nearly
2300 clinical research trials studying new treatments for this disease.