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Demand for Increased Lung Cancer Research and Early Detection Funding Achieves First-Ever Milestone in Pennsylvania

Posted on: Tuesday, 26 September 2006, 18:00 CDT

WASHINGTON and HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Lung Cancer Alliance-Pennsylvania State Chairman, Jack Hill, MD, called on Pennsylvania State Senators, and other public health leaders, to support increased funding for lung cancer research and early detection. In a testimony in front of the Select Committee on Tobacco Settlement, Hill presented the facts surrounding Pennsylvania's and the nation's leading cancer killer, and urged that lung cancer no longer be ignored or under-funded.

"My goal in appearing before the Select Committee," said Hill, "was to elevate awareness and to call upon Senators and other public health leaders to ensure that lung cancer no longer be stigmatized, ignored, or under-funded. While tobacco funds are allocated to various programs and initiatives, little if any has gone to lung cancer research and early detection. This must change."

Lung Cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, taking more lives each year than breast, prostate, colon, liver, kidney, pancreas, and skin cancers - - combined. In Pennsylvania, 7,870 of the 8,450 who will be diagnosed with the disease this year will die. Lung cancer's five-year survival rate of 15 percent has remained relatively unchanged for the past 40 years. And more astoundingly, over 60 percent now diagnosed with the disease are former smokers, many who quit decades ago, or those who never smoked. Yet despite these statistics, lung cancer receives less than a tenth of the research funding per death given to other major cancers.

Dr. Hill, whose interest in lung cancer began over five years ago with the death of his 39-year-old non-smoking daughter from the disease, urged the committee to address lung cancer with an overall plan and sense of urgency by directing no less than one percent of the Pennsylvania Tobacco Settlement funds toward lung cancer research and early detection.

"Jack's testimony is ground breaking," said Laurie Fenton, President of Lung Cancer Alliance. "For the first time ever, lung cancer's grim statistics have become a matter of Pennsylvania's public record. Now let's hope these grim realities will stimulate a 'call to action' and establish Pennsylvania as a leader in the fight against this lethal disease."

Dr. Hill concluded, "It is the right thing to do for our citizens at risk."

The Lung Cancer Alliance (http://www.lungcanceralliance.org/) is the only national non-profit organization solely dedicated to patient support and advocacy for people living with, or at risk for, lung cancer. As the number one cancer killer, lung cancer will kill more than 160,000 Americans this year alone, causing more deaths than breast, prostate, colon, liver, kidney cancers and melanoma combined.

Lung Cancer Alliance

CONTACT: Kay Cofrancesco of Lung Cancer Alliance, +1-202-463-2080,kcofrancesco@lungcanceralliance.org

Web site: http://www.lungcanceralliance.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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