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California |
Lung Cancer Alliance-California's Commitment to Improving Failing Grades
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Number of Deaths |
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F |
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Unacceptable. Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer death nationally and among California men and women. During 2008 an estimated 4,150 Californians will die of colon cancer, 4,150 of breast cancer, 3,400 of prostate cancer, and 13,100 of lung cancer. |
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Five-Year-Survival-Rate |
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F |
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No progress. In 1971 when Congress passed the War on Cancer Act, 12% of lung cancer patients survived for five years or more. Today that number is only 15%. Yet the five year survival rates for breast, prostate and colon cancers have risen to 88%, 99% and 65%—reflective of the higher amounts of research and early detection funding these other cancers receive. |
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Newly-Addicted Youth Smokers |
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F |
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Shameful. Over 15% of high school students in California smoke and tobacco companies continue to develop new campaigns specifically designed to addict young people, and most recently launched a “Purse Pack” campaign targeting young women. |
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State-Supported Research |
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F |
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Illogical. California took a national lead on tobacco cessation programs but misses the opportunity to follow through with early detection and treatment research even though 50% of new cases are being diagnosed in former smokers and another 15% in never smokers. |
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State-Supported Early
Detection Program |
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F |
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Non-existent. Only one in seven lung cancer patients will be diagnosed at an early, curable stage. Most will be diagnosed at such late stage that they will die within a year. |
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State-Supported
Cancer Plan |
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F |
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Unconscionable. The California State Cancer Plan contains only four objectives for lung cancer, three of which relate to tobacco control. The fourth objective— “To double the percentage of lung cancers diagnosed at Stage 1A by 2010”—has not been acted on and bills encouraging early detection have NOT been supported by the Governor, his administration or a majority of the state legislature. |
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