Lung Cancer Alliance Hails Florida Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio Support for Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act

Thanks Senators for Endorsing Legislation

WASHINGTON, June 29, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) commended Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) for endorsing the Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act, a bi-partisan bi-cameral bill that establishes a multi-agency, comprehensive research program targeted at all aspects of lung cancer.  

After recent meetings in Washington, DC with LCA President & CEO Laurie Fenton Ambrose and LCA-Florida advocates, Lisa Nichols, Kim Smith and Dodie Stevens, Senators Nelson and Rubio joined as cosponsors of Senate Bill S.752.

"An estimated one-in-four people with lung cancer have no symptoms when their cancer is first diagnosed," said Senator Nelson. "That's why screening is so important. And that's why the legislation would have federal health officials develop a plan for more effective screenings using CT scans."

"Lung cancer continues to claim the lives of more people in Florida and the United States than any other cancer," said Senator Rubio. "I am committed to ensuring that a comprehensive plan of action is put in place to reduce the deadly impact of this disease.

The bill requires the Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Defense and Veterans Affairs to combine forces on a comprehensive, coordinated plan of action to be presented to Congress for evaluation and funding.  

The legislation also calls for a screening demonstration program to begin the process of translating the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) recent scientific validation that low-dose CT screening of an at risk population can significantly reduce lung cancer mortality into public health benefit.  The bills have been referred to the committees with jurisdiction over health policy in the House and Senate.

"It is so exciting to see momentum continue to build in support of a national plan of action for lung cancer," said Laurie Fenton Ambrose, President & CEO of LCA. "The willingness of Senator Nelson and Senator Rubio to join other Senate and House colleagues and call for greater compassion, better used resources and a comprehensive plan for lung cancer – is what will ultimately end the disease as we know it."

"As a nurse and advocate for the lung cancer community, I am proud to be represented by these elected leaders who listened to the facts and understood that the time is now to act to reverse decades of stigma and neglect too long attached to lung cancer," said LCA-Florida advocate Kim Smith.

For more information about the Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act please visit www.lungcanceralliance.org.

Lung Cancer Alliance is the only national non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to patient support and advocacy for those living with or at risk for lung cancer.  Lung Cancer Alliance is committed to leading the movement to reverse decades of stigma and neglect by empowering those with or at risk for the disease, elevating awareness and changing health policy.

Follow Lung Cancer Alliance on Facebook: www.facebook.com/lungcanceralliance  

Media Contact:
Kay Cofrancesco
[email protected]
202-463-2080

SOURCE Lung Cancer Alliance

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