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Georgia |
Lung Cancer Alliance-Georgia's Commitment to Improving Failing Grades
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Number of Deaths |
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F |
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Remains unacceptable. Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer death among Georgian men and women. This year, 5,980 Georgians will be diagnosed and 4,570 will die from the disease an increase over last year. Lung cancer accounts for 30% of all cancer deaths in the state-killing twice as many Georgian women as breast cancer, and three times as many Georgian men as prostate cancer. In fact, lung cancer incidence is 21% higher among Georgian men than among U.S. men overall. |
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Five-Year-Survival-Rate |
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F |
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Still no progress. Lung cancer’s five-year survival rate has never gone above 15% while breast cancer’s five-year survival is now over 88% and prostate cancer is at 99%. Most diagnosed with lung cancer will die within one year. |
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Newly-Addicted Youth Smokers |
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F |
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Remains shameful. The number of new Georgian “daily” smokers under the age of 18 is 11,300 and the number of high school smokers has increased to 18.6%. Also higher is the number of packs of cigarettes bought or smoked by youth which is 23.2 million packs. Big tobacco continues its relentless multi-billion dollar campaign to hook more young people. |
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State-Supported Research |
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F |
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No improvement. Despite its toll in Georgia, lung cancer remains under funded and under researched. Georgia state funding continues to decline for tobacco control and prevention and is unavailable for early detection and treatment. |
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State-Supported Early
Detection Program |
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F |
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Remains dismal. Only 16% of lung cancer is being diagnosed at its early, localized and most treatable stage. Georgia continues to ignore mounting data showing that CT screening in a high risk population has the potential to reverse the current 15%, five –year survival rate. Note: Wellstar Health System and St Joseph’s Hospital have low cost CT screening for lung cancer early detection available and have not waited for state resources. Emory Winship Cancer Institute will soon have low cost screening available. |
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State Cancer Plan Commitment |
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D |
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Needs Improvement. The 2008 State Cancer Plan is underwhelming in its commitment to patients, survivors, and caregivers who are looking for leadership to reverse the decades of stigma and neglect too long attached to lung cancer. The plan includes smoking cessation programs but fails to identify strategies and funding for early detection and treatment. A comprehensive plan must have all components. |
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Disparity Issue |
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F |
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Unacceptable. The lung cancer incidence and mortality for African- American males in Georgia is significantly higher than any other ethnic group, yet this difference is not being addressed or researched. |
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