Press Release: LCA and AstraZeneca Release Stigma Survey Results

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LCA and AstraZeneca Release Stigma Survey Results

SURVEY SHOWS LUNG CANCER PATIENTS BLAMED FOR THEIR DIAGNOSIS

As public support decreases, so do research dollars and patient hope

Washington, DC, November 12, 2008 – Survey results released today show that the general population blames lung cancer patients for their diagnosis, confirming the stigma that patients reportedly feel. Findings also demonstrate a lack of public support for patients and a need for greater research for the number one cancer killer. Conducted by Lung Cancer Alliance and AstraZeneca, LP (NYSE: AZN), the national survey assessed the views of lung cancer patients, oncologists and the general public on lung cancer, support for lung cancer organizations, research funding for the disease, and availability of appropriate treatment options.

“This survey reinforces what the lung cancer community has felt for decades – public perception of this disease is overwhelmingly negative,” said Laurie Fenton Ambrose, President and CEO of Lung Cancer Alliance. “We’ve got to do more to overcome this pervasive stigma and focus attention where it should be -- on research for early detection and treatment for lung cancer.”

Lack of Support for Lung Cancer Patients, Organizations

Fifty-nine (59) percent of the general population surveyed said they agreed that lung cancer patients are at least partly to blame for their diagnosis; 31 percent said lung cancer patients are treated differently than people with other types of cancers. Fifty-four (54) percent of lung cancer patients agree that there is a stigma associated with having lung cancer. In addition:

* 31 percent of lung cancer patients surveyed felt strangers or acquaintances had said or done things that blamed patients for their cancer.
* 21 percent of patients reported that their friends and family have said or done things that they felt were blaming them for their lung cancer
* 13 percent of patients agree that their treatment team has said or done things that the patients felt blamed them for their cancer
* 60 percent of oncologists agreed that there is a stigma associated with lung cancer

Just 20 percent of lung cancer patients and oncologists rate public support given to lung cancer organizations as very good or excellent. In contrast, 55 percent of lung cancer patients and 79 percent of oncologists said public support of breast cancer organizations is very good or excellent. The general population was nearly twice as likely to volunteer their time or donate money to breast cancer organizations versus lung cancer organizations.

Research and Treatment Needs

Twenty-three (23) percent of lung cancer patients surveyed rated the current amount of research being conducted as very poor or poor; while 22 percent rated the amount of research as being fair. Oncologists also expressed dissatisfaction with the amount of lung cancer research. Additionally, 64 percent of oncologists said they do not have adequate treatment options for their patients with advanced lung cancer; compared with 15 percent of oncologists who said they did not have adequate treatment options for patients with advanced breast cancer.

While lung cancer causes one in three cancer deaths, lung cancer received less than 5 percent of the National Cancer Institute budget in 2007. Lung cancer received no funding from the Department of Defense (DOD) or Centers for Disease Control (CDC), both of which funded breast cancer research at $2.07 billion and $201 million respectively in 2007.

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About the Survey

The Lung Cancer Stigma Survey was conducted by Russell Research on behalf of Lung Cancer Alliance and AstraZeneca. The primary objective of this survey was to investigate what level of stigma is associated with lung cancer, and the impact of that stigma, among a random cross section of adults who: were not cancer patients, survivors or caretakers; were advanced lung cancer patients; and oncologists. Interviewing for this study was conducted both by phone and via the internet. The average length of the survey was 15 minutes.

A total of 1,481 adults were interviewed for this study: 1,071 adults who were not cancer patients, survivors or caretakers; 204 lung cancer patients (170 with stage 3 or 4 lung cancer and 34 with stage 1 or 2 disease); and 206 oncologists. Interviewing for this study was conducted June 23 through August 1, 2008.

3 replies

jazzbo

Well I guess I'm not surprized. I hope someone will just take notice and maybe realize that we are people too!

greccogirl

What really amazes me about this is we all know that smoking is linked to MANY cancers. There are also many other behaviors that cause disease. Look at AIDS. Isn't it funny how we fall all over ourselves to excuse bad behavior in AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases by saying "well, it is only human to have sex". I mean it was like "sure I have risky sexual behavior, but should I have to die for it?"

I only wish that for one month we could hold every person in the world accountable for every disease they have, and let all feel the stigma.

My friend is quite overweight, he weighs over 300 lbs (the only other "class" of people that we feel justified in treating like dogs other than smokers) and he just had a triple bypass. Should we say "well, what do you expect, fatty?"

I know I sound like I'm on a soapbox, and I'm a non smoker.

I have another friend who every year just like clockwork, starts at the tanning booth every spring and out on the lake until she had burned herself a dark brown leathery tan. I asked her doesn't she know she could get skin cancer? Her response: "I like being tan".

We even treat alcoholics with more compassion. We know that women who don't breast feed their children have higher breast cancers, and also who don't have their children young. Smoking, alcohol and many other factors including birth control pills factor into it. But we don't say "well I guess you should have breast fed" to these people.

The facts are if we held everyone accountable for every "risk factor" in their lives, everyone would be responsible for something.

It is time to put this to rest. We have got to find a way to make people understand that even if ALL smoking were done away with lung cancer would STILL be one of the top cancers. And that NO ONE is safe.

I'll never forget someone I knew asking me "I didn't know you smoked" and I said "I don't". She looked so shocked and then that look was replaced by 'fear'. THAT is the biggest reason why this is uncomfortable for people and gives them an easy out for blaming. If they can reassure themselves that only "smokers" really get cancer, well then they have nothing to worry about.

And we all know that is ridiculous. But until we find a way to make people understand it, this will continue.

I am still damn mad about where all the "tobacco company" money went to? Instead of research it went into the "stop smoking" propaganda.

ckm9

Lung Cancer is a damn thing to have! Not only because it kills just about everyone that has the "Luck" to get it but also because hardly anyone really care to hear about it.

I am very positive person but I have noticed in the past 2 years, since I was diagnosed with lung cancer, the lack of a true response, feelings, from other people. With much sadness, I have seen many of my LCA friends die in these last 2 years and many were non-smokers. It does not matter if you did smoke or not, what matters is that we are all humans, equal to all the "other people" that do not have LC.

Here is an example how people do not really care if you have LC. I am a nurse, RN, I work in the operating room, all my colleagues are in the "Medical Field". They are doctors, nurses, scrub techs, etc... Well, about 3 weeks ago I pinned on our community bulletin board, a Lung Cancer Awareness flyer with my fundraising page from Free to Breath, where I explain about LC, the lack of awareness, lack of funding for research, my diagnosis, my goals to raise money for research funding, etc... Well, to my dismay only 2 people donated (and they are nurses and good friends)!! No one else donated, not even one surgeon!! I am so disappointed... I cannot believe the lack of interest and I work with them! They know me, they know what I've been thru and I think they know I did not smoke. It does not matter. If the people in the medical field do not care, why should anyone else care...?? And, again this year, I sent out emails to different networks and local stations but without success ... as usual.

The media, the government, the public, simply do not have any interest in learning about the real facts about Lung Cancer and "us", the people with lung cancer... it is very discouraging and frustrating. We have a very long, hard road ahead of us but we must unite! We'll be able to gain strength and have our voices heard. Never give up hope.

Claudia

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