The Colonel Lichtenberger Foundation is a non-profit organization formed to create awareness of gastric or stomach cancer and early detection methods and practices. It is to promote awareness of this cancer to Vietnam veterans who may have been exposed to Agent Orange during their service in Vietnam. It is also to raise funds for research and provide support to gastric cancer victims and their families.
This Foundation was formed after my husband Colonel Robert N. “Bob” Lichtenberger died of gastric or stomach cancer on April 30, 2008. He was diagnosed in September of 2007 as Stage IV. He had no symptoms until just days before the diagnosis. He had his last physical in July of 2007 and all tests and reports were normal.
Gastric cancer is relatively rare in this country, only about 25,000 cases per year. Unfortunately most are not diagnosed until stage IV. A test called an endoscopy can be done fairly easily, in fact at the same time as a colonoscopy, to look into the esophogus and stomach to check for gastric cancer. If found early enough the chances of survival are greater.
Because we knew so little about gastric cancer, we had no idea the disease was growing inside my husband until it was too late. Hopefully this Foundation can help to bring awareness to others in an effort to prolong and save lives.