LungBlog

Deaths from lung cancer are greater among both men and women than from any other cancer in the United States, but many people are undereducated when it comes to this cancer.

We know about breast cancer, which has a five-year survival rate of 89 percent, and we know about prostate cancer, which has a 99-percent five-year survival rate, but what about lung cancer? Victims of lung cancer have a less than 16-percent five-year survival rate. Despite these staggering statistics, little research or funding exists for the prevention and treatment of this disease.

As the month of November brings lung cancer into focus, it’s a great time to increase public understanding of the disease, including its prevalence, approaches to screening and prevention, treatment options, and resources that offer updated lung cancer information throughout the year.The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that in 2008 there will be 215,020 new cases of lung cancer; this will make up about 15% of cancer diagnoses overall. Lung cancer, which is classified for treatment purposes as small cell or non–small cell, accounts for the most cancer-related deaths in both men and women, according to the ACS. Lung cancer deaths for 2008 are estimated to total 161,840, which is about 29% of all cancer deaths.

 Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer death in men and women in the United States. Furthermore, over the past 25 years, the death rate from lung cancer has continued to rise. Lung cancer causes more deaths than breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer combined. Is there some way we can screen patients to detect lung cancer early when it may be more treatable? More important, how can we prevent lung cancer?

“There is a stigma around lung cancer because so many people think smokers brought it on themselves,” said Dr. Morosini, whose nonsmoking sister died of the disease less than two years after losing her husband, actor Christopher Reeve. “Nobody deserves to get lung cancer. The fact is smoking causes lung cancer and if you don’t smoke you lower your risk. But other things can cause lung cancer.”

THE rates of lung cancer in Wales – which are among the highest in the world – are still linked to poverty and deprivation, it was revealed today.

And the charity is calling for greater awareness of the symptoms, claiming that the earlier they are spotted the better the chance of survival.

At the start of lung cancer awareness month, the Welsh-based cancer charity Tenovus say that greater awareness of the symptoms is needed to cut the death rates which currently runs at five lung cancer fatalities each day.

As NCI lung cancer researcher Phillip A. Dennis pointed out in the journal Science in 2004, breast cancer received nine times the funding per death as lung cancer. “Important health issues such as diarrhea, influenza, and lung cancer may not be sexy, but they deserve the public’s attention and commitment from policymakers and the scientific community,” he wrote.

 Lung Cancer kills more people than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined, yet funding for the top cancer killer just doesn’t add up.

Raising money for breast cancer is a lot easier. In fact, significantly fewer dollars are given to lung cancer research. That’s likely because smoking causes most lung cancer, and creates a stigma around the disease

Most people don’t know this, but there are about 200 different types of cancer that can attack the body so it’s easy to see why a large percentage of people will be affected by some form of cancer during their lifetime.

In men, the most common forms are lung, colon and prostate cancer with the survival rate varying among the different types.

Throughout the U.S and the rest of the world lung cancer is the leading cause of death among men, and in 2007 more than 200,000 men were diagnosed and began undergoing treatment for the disease.

In the same year, more than 160,000 lost their battle with the disease which is more than the number of deaths associated with colon and prostate cancer combined. So what causes lung cancer?

To kick-off Lung Cancer Awareness Month, the Lung Cancer Research Foundation hosts the Third Annual Lung Cancer Awareness Luncheon and Lecture on Monday, November 3, 2008 at The Mandarin Oriental Hotel.  The event is co-chaired by Laurie C. Carson and Kimberly Kravis Schulhof.  The Master of Ceremonies is Sapna Parikh, M.D., Medical Reporter, Fox 5 News.  Guest Speaker James R. Rigas, M.D., Director, Comprehensive Thoracic Oncology Program, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Norris Cotton Cancer Center will give a presentation on “The Global Treatment of Lung Cancer: A Historical View.”  LCRF will present the inaugural LCRF Scientific Merit Award to Rachel M.A. Linger, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine.  Time: 12:00PM.  Location: The Mandarin Oriental Hotel,

at

.   Tickets: $250 and up.  For more information visit: www.lungcancerresearchfoundation.org

When Lori Hope, 54, a six-year cancer survivor, first tells someone that she successfully battled lung cancer, she is invariably asked, “Did you smoke?”

“My initial reaction to that question, soon after I was diagnosed, was a very powerful, emotional reaction of shame and regret, because I did smoke. And I felt afraid, afraid I’m being judged, afraid I got this disease as a punishment, and even afraid that it could come back and kill me,” Hope says. “It’s not as bad now so many years later, but it still makes me uncomfortable.”