But Levy, a Northbrook mother of three, was diagnosed earlier this year with lung cancer, or what experts term "the invisible cancer."

Why invisible? Even though lung cancer is the No. 1 cancer killer of men and women, it suffers from a dearth of research funds and a lack of publicity.

In 1999, lung cancer research dollars amounted to $950 per death, compared with $8,860 per breast-cancer death, according to the American Cancer Society.

And as far as publicity goes, nearly everyone knows that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and that its symbol is a pink ribbon. Not nearly as well known is the fact that November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and its symbol is a clear ribbon rimmed with a gold border.

"Lung cancer is looked at as the cancer that gets no respect," says Levy, whose cancer is now in remission. "It's a smokers' disease--you've done it to yourself."

That, however, doesn't apply to Levy, who has never smoked, or a 32-year-old friend of hers, who has never smoked and yet has lung cancer that has spread to her brain.

In fact, non-smokers now account for nearly 20 percent of all new lung cancer cases, and former smokers account for half the new cases diagnosed every year, says Jan Healy, advocacy program manager for the Alliance for Lung Cancer (Alcase), a Vancouver, Wash.-based non-profit group. In addition, women account for a growing number of new cases, Healy says.

Alcase hopes to change some of the public's misperceptions about lung cancer with a series of seven rallies to be held around the country on Saturday.

"The point of the rallies is to focus public attention on the need for more federal research dollars for lung cancer, early detection and treatment, and also to insist that state tobacco settlement money be devoted to those suffering the effects of tobacco-related illnesses," says Healy. So far, only New York has done that, she adds.

For details on the rallies, call Alcase at 800-298-2436.