Lung Cancer Alliance News
LCA President sends letter to DOJ
The Department of Justice's recent decision to reduce their request for damages in the federal government's suit again eleven tobacco companies has raised a firestorm of protests in Washington, but only about tobacco cessation funding. Lung Cancer Alliance president, Laurie Fenton sent a letter to the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney General regarding this case and the distribution of the settlement.
June 13, 2005
The Honorable Alberto R. Gonzales
Attorney General of the United States
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
re: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. PHILIP MORRIS INCORPORATED, et al.
Dear Attorney General Gonzales,
The Lung Cancer Alliance is gravely concerned that the outcome of United States v. Philip Morris USA Inc. et al. will include no funding for lung cancer research, treatment, early detection or disease management.
Indeed, we object to the fact that the government’s case has neglected to adequately or accurately represent the interests of 91 million American citizens and their families. They must be considered in any settlement in this case.
The people most harmed by the racketeering and criminal marketing tactics of the tobacco companies were the people they deliberately - and successfully - sought to addict. There are 45 million current smokers in the United States. For them and for young people about to pick up that first cigarette, antismoking and cessation programs are still needed. But these programs do not go far enough.
There are also 46 million former smokers, people who responded to the warnings and who took the difficult steps necessary to break the addiction. Contrary to popular mythology, lungs do not go back to normal after quitting. Former smokers will always remain at elevated risk for lung cancer.
It is fortunate that for the first time we have more former smokers than current smokers. However, we also for the first time have more former smokers than current smokers getting lung cancer. A recent report by the Centers for Disease Control indicates that among people who have smoked, lung cancer has far surpassed heart disease as the leading cause of death.
The billions spent on tobacco cessation programs obviously do not go far enough. There are no programs to help former smokers assess and monitor their risk, or detect their lung cancer at an early stage when it can still be cured.
The lack of information and misinformation among the public, the medical community and even among health policy makers is disturbing. The National Cancer Institute has consistently underfunded lung cancer, despite the fact that it is the largest single cancer, responsible for more deaths each year than breast, prostate, colon, liver, melanoma and kidney cancers combined.
The 5 year survival rate is still only 15% and has been for decades. Late stage diagnosis in nearly three quarters of new cases is a major factor in this low survival rate. Treatments for advanced cancer are only marginally effective. Yet promising reports of early detection are not being pursued with any sense of urgency.
There has also been a pervasive “they did it to themselves” attitude used to justify the underfunding and virtually nothing said about the even higher incidence and mortality of lung cancer among veterans and minority populations.
In 1999, when the States’ Attorneys General negotiated the Master Settlement Agreement with the tobacco industry, no funding was specifically earmarked for lung cancer research and treatment. Tragically, the opportunity to allow the victims of tobacco industry deception to benefit from improving early lung cancer detection was missed.
The federal government must not repeat this debacle.
We urge you to remember the 91 million current and former smokers who have an enormous stake in the outcome of this suit: Their lives.
Sincerely,
Laurie Fenton
President
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