More can be done in
fight against lung cancer

Copyright © 2006 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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As a lung cancer survivor and patient advocate, I was deeply heartened to hear lung cancer featured in this year's "Trek Across Maine," the American Lung Association's annual public awareness and fundraising campaign.

As a lung cancer survivor, I know all to well how stigmatized, misunderstood, ignored and under-funded lung cancer is as compared to other major cancers. Accounting for roughly 30 percent of all cancer deaths, lung cancer takes more lives than breast, prostate, colon, liver and kidney cancer combined.

You don't need to be a current smoker to be diagnosed with this disease. 60 percent of all newly diagnosed lung cancers are former smokers, many who have quit decades ago, or have never smoked at all. This is why tobacco control programs alone will not address the needs of the entire lung cancer community.

Funds to support early detection and better treatment options must be increased.

I call upon the American Lung Association to show the lung cancer community you are truly committed to fighting this lethal disease. That you will do more than just "feature" it in a public awareness campaign.

That you will commit more than 4 percent of your research budget to finding better treatment options and early detection for lung cancer. This would be an important step for a national organization claiming to represent the lung cancer community.

Debra Violette

Augusta

State Committee Chairperson

Lung Cancer Alliance, Maine