LCA-CA issues 2nd Annual Report Card on Lung Cancer

California Makes Little Progress to Improve Overall Outcomes for Lung Cancer

Today, Lung Cancer Alliance-California (LCA-CA) issued its 2nd Annual Report Card on Lung Cancer. The 2009 Report Card is an assessment of progress being made against this lethal disease in the state of California. LCA-CA is a chapter of Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA), the only national organization dedicated exclusively to patient support and advocacy for people living with or at risk for lung cancer.

The 2009 California Report Card on Lung Cancer tracks LCA's National Report Card on Lung Cancer, now in its fifth edition, which gauges national progress in the battle to reverse lung cancer's stigma and mortality rate. These Report Cards have become centerpieces to draw attention to the need for increased support, attention and research funding for lung cancer.

"We have again laid out our commitments for reversing the decades of stigma and neglect associated with lung cancer," said Mike Stevens, LCA-CA Co-chair and lung cancer survivor. "Our team is in place and is willing to work with other organizations to increase research funding and ending lung cancer as we know it."

Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer death nationally, as well as among California men and women, resulting in approximately 30 percent of all cancer deaths in the state. In 2009, it is estimated that 17,910 Californians will be diagnosed and 12,750 will die from the disease--more than the combined total of breast, prostate, and colon cancers.

The LCA-CA 2009 Report Card on Lung Cancer uses six categories to grade progress in key areas: The categories include: Number of Deaths; 5-year Survival Rate; Number of Late Stage Diagnosis; Newly Addicted Young Smokers; State Supported Research; State Supported Cancer Plan. Only two categories improved their grades from "F" in 2009, with State Support Research and State Supported Cancer Plan both receiving a "D".