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Lung Cancer Facts
- Lung cancer kills
more people each year than breast, prostate, and colon cancers combined.
- Lung cancer accounts
for 30% of all cancer deaths.
- The five year
survival rate for lung cancer is 15%. This figure has not seen a significant
change in 30 years. Because of concentrated research the five year survival
rate for other cancers have increased significantly-98% for prostate
cancer, 86% for breast cancer, and 62% for colon cancer.
- Lung cancer kills
more than one million people worldwide every year.
- Researchers indicate
that there are 650,000 yet to be diagnosed cases of lung cancer.
- Of those diagnosed
with lung cancer, 90% die of this disease.
- More than 50%
of newly-diagnosed lung cancer patients are people who have never smoked
or are former smokers.
- Former smokers
remain at risk for lung cancer for at least 20 years after they stop
smoking.
- Doctors surveyed
at the World Congress on Lung Cancer in Vancouver in August, 2003 reported
that research funding into effective lung cancer detection methods was
the most important factor for improving survival in patients with lung
cancer, followed closely by more government funding of effective lung
cancer treatments. (Global Lung Cancer Conference - GLCC, www.lungcancercoalition.org)
- As a result of
the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) between the states' attorneys
general and the tobacco companies (USA, plaintiff v Philip Morris Inc,
et al) the American Legacy Foundation received $1.7 billion. The states'
attorneys general had no stipulation on how the remaining $207 billion
was to be spent. ALCASE has been unable to identify any MSA funding
that was set aside by any state legislature specifically for lung cancer
research or treatment.
- There are very
few lung cancer advocates because of the stigma surrounding lung cancer-with
the public considering that the disease is self-inflicted by smoking-and
because most people diagnosed with lung cancer do not live long enough
to become advocates.
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