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Lung Cancer Case Statement Update Print E-mail

4 April 2003

Lung Cancer Case Statement Update

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death. The number of cases has been steadily rising and more than 7,000 Australian men and women have been diagnosed with the disease each year since 1990. The number of men affected by lung cancer appears to have plateaued but women are increasingly diagnosed with the disease. Survival rates five years after diagnosis are less than 15%.

Tobacco smoking causes the vast majority of lung cancers. Both current smokers and former smokers are at risk. Many of those who are currently being diagnosed with lung cancer began smoking when they were teenagers, at a time when smoking rates were high. The addictive properties of cigarettes make it difficult to stop smoking early enough to prevent cancer development.

Individual and community attitudes to lung cancer have tended to be negative, partly because of the association with smoking. We need to recognise that people with lung cancer may feel they have a self-inflicted illness and that they are perhaps less worthy of medical attention than others. Furthermore, health care providers should take care not to be inappropriately judgemental and we should demand continuing improvements in lung cancer knowledge and care for our patients.

There is now a renewed interest in lung cancer. Lung cancer is largely preventable given effective tobacco control and smoking prevention and cessation strategies. There have been incremental advances in the clinical management of lung cancer and more are expected. Given the currently poor outcomes from lung cancer, there is plenty of scope for improvement.

The Australian Lung Foundation is committed to reducing the prevalence and impact of lung cancer. It is a challenge that will require a collaborative effort from the community, research institutions, health professionals, government and other stakeholders. In order to influence health outcomes, the effort to combat lung cancer will have to be sustained and it will likely be costly. However the costs of inaction, both individually and for the community, mandates this concerted approach.

Lung cancer needs our serious attention. We strongly encourage you to support the Australian Lung Foundation in lung cancer initiatives.

Dr Bob Edwards FRACP
National Chairman
Australian Lung Foundation 

Dr Kwun Fong MBBS FRACP PhD
Chairman 
Australian Lung Foundation Lung Cancer Consultative Group 

pdf  lung_cancer_case_statement_2006

For further lung cancer  enquiries email The Australian Lung Foundation
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Content updated April 4, 2003
Last Updated ( Friday, 04 July 2008 )
 
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