2011 National Report Card on Lung Cancer notes significant change in grade for early detection

Yearly Assessment Notes Significant Change in Grade for Early Detection and Progress in Federal Response

Today, Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA), the leading national support and advocacy voice for those at risk for or living with lung cancer, issued its annual 2011 National Report Card on Lung Cancer, an overall assessment of the nation's response to the continuing high mortality of lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death.

2011 marks the 7th year of the release of the National Report Card, which is issued each November during Lung Cancer Awareness Month to help bring national focus and attention to the disease and gage progress in the fight against lung cancer.  The 2011 National Report Card is distributed to leading public health and policy makers, media and elected officials.

"What a difference a year makes," said Laurie Fenton-Ambrose, LCA President & CEO, "as the 2011 National Report Card grades show areas of significant improvement - a hopeful sign for our community that we are finally moving in a more positive direction to reduce lung cancer's devastating impact.   While we still have failing grades in core areas - there is no denying that life-saving progress is being made in others."

The 2011 National Report Card again issued failing grades for the lack of progress in reducing lung cancer's overall high mortality and survival rate, as well as the continued stigmatization of the disease.

However, the 2011 National Report Card highlighted upward grade adjustment in Early Detection, as well as acknowledging improvements in the federal response to a call to action on lung cancer policy and growing support among a National Network of Supporters uniting to make lung cancer a public health priority. 

The 2011 National Report Card also noted grade improvement in diagnosis and treatment with the recent approval of a new drug therapy for those with the ALK marker, and the continued expansion of clinical trial options for lung cancer research.  

Fenton-Ambrose continued, "By far the most significant and exciting development has been the scientific validation of the use of low-dose CT scans to screen those at high risk and significantly reduce lung cancer's mortality.  This is a game changer - a life-saving breakthrough - which LCA will work to see brought safely, equitably and efficiently into our public health system." 

"We are also monitoring approval of an additional $10 million in federal lung cancer research funding," noted Fenton-Ambrose, "that if signed into law this Congress will bring to date a total of $60 million in funding secured by LCA for disease research.   This in parallel with growing federal interest in and national network support for  the Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act, a first-ever coordinated and comprehensive plan of action for all aspects of lung cancer, positions our disease for significant advancements in the months ahead, just as we realized with our most recent drug approval for the ALK marker," Fenton-Ambrose concluded.

View the 2011 National Report Card in its entirety at  www.lungcanceralliance.org.