Lung Cancer Alliance Seeks Lung Cancer Research and Early Detection Fund from Tobacco Industry

Main Category: Lung Cancer
Article Date: 08 Sep 2005 - 18:00 PDT

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The Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA), the only national organization dedicated solely to advocacy on behalf of lung cancer patients and those at risk for the disease, requested leave to file an Amicus Brief before the United States District Court to strengthen the remedies that the Court is considering in the case of the United States of America vs. Philip Morris, USA, Inc. and other tobacco companies.

In the brief, LCA is asking that the tobacco industry be required to contribute to a fund to support independent research on the aetiology, diagnosis, treatment and cure of lung cancer and the development of a national program on early lung cancer detection.

"This is a watershed moment for the entire lung cancer community," said Laurie Fenton, LCA President. "When you combine the creation of an independent research fund to better understand, diagnose, treat and cure lung cancer with tougher smoking cessation and marketing disclosure measures proposed by the United States and the Public Health Intervenors, the result is the one-two punch that will knock out lung cancer."

In the brief, LCA argues that because of the tobacco industry's efforts to conceal scientific facts concerning the health and addictive effects of smoking and characterize smoking as a free adult "choice," this profoundly has shaped how lung cancer is perceived and treated in society. The "stigmatization" has led to lung cancer victims routinely being blamed for their own disease and ultimately to inadequate research funding from both public and private institutions.

"Funding for lung cancer research and early detection programs has lacked institutional commitment, an overall plan and a sense of urgency," continued Ms. Fenton, "even though it is the leading cancer killer, taking the lives of more people than breast, prostate, colon, liver, kidney and pancreas cancers combined each year."

Cigarette smoke is the leading cause of lung cancer, implicated in 87 percent of all lung cancer deaths. There are 45 million current smokers and 46 million former smokers who are at risk for lung cancer.

"Survival rates for lung cancer over the past three decades have shown little to no improvement," explained Ms. Fenton, "even as survival rates for other major cancers have increased sharply. We strongly believe the tobacco industry has contributed to this unacceptable situation. This legal recourse and all its important remedies is an important step."

Lung Cancer Alliance
http://www.lungcanceralliance.org

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