Advocacy

North Carolinians Against Lung Cancer

The North Carolinians Against Lung Cancer (NCALC) was formed in 2006 and is comprised of lung cancer survivors and others who have lost family members and loved ones to this terrible disease. The NCALC, along with the ALA of NC is gearing up for Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November by focusing their efforts around the mission of the NCALC: “to educate and increase awareness about lung cancer and to raise research funds for early detection and treatment.” 

The mission is particularly relevant given current lung cancer statistics.

During 2005, lung cancer claimed the lives of more than 5,000 North Carolinians and over 170,000 Americans. Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in both men and women in the United States, surpassing combined deaths for breast cancer, colon and prostate cancer - the 3 most common cancers. Currently, 85% of people diagnosed with lung cancer will die within five years of their initial diagnosis.

Lung cancer research is under-funded, particularly compared to other common cancers like breast cancer. Breast cancer received more than $1.6 billion in funding for research from 1992 to 2004; in comparison, lung cancer received only $33 million. In 2004, federal government spending for breast cancer was $13,953 for each death; the same spending for lung cancer was $1,723 for each death. Of the almost $300 million of tobacco settlement funds allocated each year in N.C., none is allocated to research.

In 2006 year alone, 5,520 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in North Carolina, impacting both smokers, as well as non-smokers. Increasing awareness is critical as early detection, while not common, plays a crucial role in increasing the rate of lung cancer survivors.

What can I do to help fight lung cancer?

Below is a list of things that you can do in your community to help fight lung cancer and its devastating effects on families:

• Advocate for lung cancer awareness and increased research funding
• Download the text of NCALC’s petition to urge Congress to increase funding for lung cancer research and gather signatures (return completed petitions to the American Lung Association of North Carolina)
• Write a letter to your Congressional representatives asking them to help get greater Federal funds for lung cancer research (contact the American Lung Association of North Carolina if you do not know who your Congressional leaders are)
• Write letters to your state and regional representatives asking them to appropriate 1% (or more) of annual tobacco settlement revenues to lung cancer research (contact the American Lung Association of North Carolina if you do not know what your state legislators are)
• Distribute NCALC brochures describing the need for greater awareness of and funding for lung cancer to community businesses and events

To find out more about lung cancer, visit www.lungnc.org. If you are interested in finding out more information about the NCALC, how you can assist in supporting this cause, or attend a meeting, please contact Sandy Oehler at soehler@lungnc.org.