Lung Cancer Alliance News

LCA PRAISES CONGRESSMAN SHAW FOR LEAD ON DEMANDING MORE RESEARCH FUNDING

June 30, 2005

Today the LUNG CANCER ALLIANCE praised the work of CONGRESSMAN E. CLAY SHAW, Jr. (R-FL) for leading 73 other members of Congress to demand more funding for lung cancer.

Shaw hand delivered yesterday a letter he initiated and had co-signed by 74 Members of Congress to Health and Human Services Secretary Michael O. Leavitt which stated : "We ask that you substantially increase federal funding for, and your commitment to, lung cancer research."

"We are grateful he has taken the lead in the House of Representatives a difficult but critical issue, " said Laurie Fenton, president of the Lung Cancer Alliance.  " Because of the stigma of smoking and the small number of survivors, lung cancer has been virtually ignored in Washington for decades, even though it is the biggest single cancer killer."

Lung cancer kills more people each year than breast, prostate, colon, liver, melanoma and kidney cancers combined. Sixty percent of newly diagnosed lung cancer patients are non-smokers or people who quit, many of them years ago.  Moreover, three quarters of all new cases are not diagnosed until late stage, virtually guaranteeing that the 5 year survival rate will continue to be only 15%..

"The continuing low survival rate of lung cancer is a political problem more than a science problem," added Fenton.  "That is why the Shaw letter, endorsed by so many members of Congress, is so important to our work in reversing these statistics."

The Lung Cancer Alliance will continue its work with Congress Shaw and other members of the U.S. Congress to elevate awareness and direct more resources to lung cancer research.

View Congressman Shaw's letter to see if your representative has signed.

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