Our Commitment to Improving Failing Grades

Advocate for increased research dollars

The Lung Cancer Alliance will engage and educate key policymakers at the state and federal level to promote an increased funding commitment for this disease.

The vicious circle of low survival rates and low research dollars must be broken. The following federal agencies must:

	National Cancer Institute	Increase the amount of research funding per death for lung cancer to the average amount per death being spent on breast, prostate and colon cancer research with particular emphasis on early detection programs. Lay out precisely how lung cancer mortality rates will be reduced by 50% within 10 years. Increase the number of lung cancer Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) to 10.
	Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs	Start a coordinated lung cancer screening and early detection program for current and retired military personnel who participated in the Korean, Vietnam, Gulf and Iraq wars.
	Centers for Disease Control	Relocate lung cancer to the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control and enhance public information and data collection programs for lung cancer.
	Department of Justice	Include funding for lung cancer research and early detection in its suit and any settlement negotiated in the U.S. Government versus Philip Morris et al.
	Food and Drug Administration	Keep all drugs for late-stage lung cancer accessible to patients and their doctors. Work with the NCI to expedite the development of chemoprevention drugs for lung cancer.
	Department of Energy	Increase funding for the occupational early lung cancer detection program in the nuclear weapons industry.

Speed discovery and implementation of early detection methods

The Lung Cancer Alliance commits to facilitating a paradigm shift from late to early stage detection, diagnosis and treatment. Lung cancer is most often diagnosed after signs or symptoms develop, at a late-stage, when the cancer has already begun to spread. Effective ways to diagnose lung cancer earlier and create a screening program for those at risk must be a priority. The International Early Lung Cancer Action Program (I-ELCAP), a network of cancer research centers, is collaborating and achieving significant progress in early diagnosis. Support is essential from the federal level to endorse and promote these sorts of efforts as they do other major cancers.

Ensure doctors and patients have access to all treatment options

The Lung Cancer Alliance will track both industry and regulatory actions involving new treatment and diagnostic options and communicate these advances to our stakeholders. We will continue to advocate for more treatment options and defend the rights of lung cancer patients and doctors.

Strengthen strategic alliances

The Lung Cancer Alliance will bring public and private partners and volunteers together to achieve coordinated campaigns for action on vital lung cancer issues.

Launch grassroots movement to ensure "No More Excuses. No More Lung Cancer."

The Lung Cancer Alliance will provide the infrastructure for patients, caregivers and survivors to connect, share stories, plan events and take action to ensure lung cancer is no longer ignored and a cure is found.

Enhance patient support programs for individuals affected by or at risk for lung cancer

The Lung Cancer Alliance will maintain its Toll-Free Hotline (1-800-298-2436) and its Phone Buddy Program, a peer-to-peer support initiative. We will produce up-to-date educational materials. We will develop a consumer report for all lung cancer news. We will offer a free clinical trial matching service that matches patients diagnosis and treatment history to doctors and nurses conducting these trials. We will expand our smoking prevention and control efforts. Youths must understand smoking is not cool. It is not sexy. It is lethal.