LUNG CANCER ALLIANCE HAILS VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS’ CALL FOR PILOT CT SCREENING PROGRAMS

“We’ve known for years that our veterans are being diagnosed and dying of lung cancer at higher rates than civilians,” says Lung Cancer Alliance leader

Washington, DC -- Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) hailed four key veterans organizations that on February 16, 2011 called for pilot CT screening programs for veterans at high risk for lung cancer and included the recommendation in the Independent Budget - an annual document listing their top priorities for federal funding.

LCA’s Chairman of the Board Admiral T. Joseph Lopez USN (Ret) called this “a responsible and timely action.”

The Independent Budget for Fiscal Year 2012, released yesterday by AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), included a section on the impact of lung cancer and urged that the VA set up pilot programs that would offer CT screening to veterans at high risk for lung cancer.

“We’ve known for years that our veterans are being diagnosed and dying of lung cancer at higher rates than civilians,” said Admiral Lopez.

“Now that the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) has confirmed that CT screening can save tens of thousands of lives a year, I would urge the Veterans Administration to act expeditiously on the recommendation of our top veterans organizations to bring this benefit to the men and women who have served their country.” he said.

Lung cancer has a disproportionate impact on veterans, who have historically had higher smoking rates than civilians, and have been exposed during active duty to carcinogens, such as Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, asbestos on ships and submarines and depleted uranium in weapons and tanks during the Gulf War.

The leading cancer killer, lung cancer accounts for 30% of all cancer deaths, and takes more lives each year than the next four biggest cancers - breast, prostate, colon and pancreatic cancers - combined.

The long-standing debate over screening was resolved last November when the NLST, an eight year randomized controlled trial with 53,000 participants, demonstrated that CT scanners could find lung cancer at an early curable stage and reduce lung cancer deaths by at least 20% over chest x-rays.

By contrast, the overall mortality reduction of mammography screening on breast cancer is 15%.

Subsequent analyses of data collected in other NCI studies indicate that the mortality reduction of CT screening for lung cancer compared to no screening at all may be over 60%.

“The debate is over,” said Admiral Lopez. “CT screening does save lives.”  

Detecting and treating lung cancer at early stage is far less expensive than late stage, he pointed out, and added:  "Screening not only saves lives and money but enables those treated and cured to continue to lead productive lives."

"Pilot screening programs should be implemented immediately so this benefit is delivered to our veterans safely, effectively and efficiently.” Admiral Lopez concluded.

Research into CT screening for lung cancer was initiated in 1992 by the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program (I-ELCAP) which over the years has incorporated imaging advances as they occur and developed the most robust and accurate method for reading the scans and diagnosing lung cancer.

National and international researchers using the I-ELCAP protocol are seeing ten year survival rates of nearly 80%.

Lung cancer rarely shows definitive symptoms until the disease has progressed to a late, inoperable stage, and until now, screening has not been recommended, even for people at very high risk.

Consequently the five year survival rate for lung cancer is still only 15%.

Lung Cancer Alliance is the only national non-profit organization devoted solely to support and advocacy for all 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.

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For more information on lung cancer screening please go to:

http://www.lungcanceralliance.org/eirc/screen/screening_positions.html

Gulf War Illness, other CDMRP Programs to Remain Fully Funded this Year under Congressional Funding Bill

House Continuing Resolution contains full funding for Gulf War Illness treatment research, funding for ALS, MS, Lung Cancer, and 21 other key military medical research priorities

Written by Anthony Hardie, 91outcomes.com

(91outcomes.com) – The continuing appropriations (CR) legislation expected to be considered in the U.S. House of Representatives this week contains full funding for the Congressionally Directed, treatment-focused Gulf War Illness Medical Research Program (CDMRP), a move that will be of great relief to the Gulf War veteran community. 

Since the failure of the omnibus appropriations bill at the end of the 112th Congress last December, the Gulf War Illness advocacy community has remained vigilant as current year funding was left as an unwritten promise by Congressional leaders.

As it was funded in the past few years, the Gulf War Illness peer-reviewed treatment-focused research program on which I have served since its initial funding in 2006 would be funded under the House bill at $8 million.  Our program vision statement directs that funded research must help to improve the health and lives of those suffering from Gulf War Illness. 

Led by Chairman Jim Binns, the Congressionally chartered Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses (RAC-GWVI) on which I serve recommended, sought creation of, and has been instrumental in the funding for the CDMRP program for peer-reviewed Gulf War Illness treatment research.

The House CR would also provide an $8 million appropriation for ALS research funding, a substantial increase over last year.  ALS has been found in epidemic-level rates in veterans of the 1991 Gulf War and is a presumptive condition for service-connection for any U.S. veteran.

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a rapidly degenerative neurological condition that usually claims the lives of its victims in as short as 18 months after initial diagnosis.  Heavily engaged in advocacy efforts, the ALS Association’s mission is is to lead the fight to treat and cure ALS through global research and nationwide advocacy while also empowering people with Lou Gehrig’s Disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) funding is also included in the House version of the CR, at $4.8 million.  MS is believed by Gulf War veterans to also be highly prevalent among veterans of the 1991 Gulf War.   The National MS Society, heavily involved in advocating for this funding, is a collective of passionate individuals who want to do something about MS now—to move together toward a world free of multiple sclerosis.

MS is a presumptive condition for VA service-connection if it’s diagnosed within seven years of discharge from active duty. 

Under the House version of the CR, peer-reviewed Lung Cancer research would be funded at $12.8 million.  The Lung Cancer Alliance, the only national non-profit organization dedicated solely to patient support and advocacy for people living with lung cancer and those at risk for the disease, has substantial concerns about lung cancer in Gulf War and other veterans.

Led by House Rules Committee Chairman David Drier, new to the current 113th Congress is a House Rules website that allows for relatively transparent and easy tracking of upcoming legislation and bills currently under consideration by the House.    Internet resources for tracking are posted below this article.

Twenty-one other CDMRP peer-reviewed military medical research programs would also be funded under House CR.   The full listing of the critically important CDMRP military medical research programs and their proposed funding levels under the House CR are as follows:

1. ALS $8,000
2. Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine $4,800
3. Autism Research $6,400
4. Bone Marrow Failure Disease Research Program $4,000
5. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy $4,000
6. Global HIV/AIDS Prevention $10,000
7. Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychological Health $100,000
8. Global Deployment of the Force medical research funding -Department of Defense requested transfer to maintain full funding for the program $125,000
9. Gulf War Illness Peer-Reviewed Research Program $8,000
10. Multiple Sclerosis $4,800
11. Peer-Reviewed Alzheimer Research $15,000
12. Peer-Reviewed Breast Cancer Research Program $150,000
13. Peer-Reviewed Cancer Research Program $16,000
14. Peer-Reviewed Lung Cancer Research Program $12,800
15. Peer-Reviewed Orthopedic Research Program $24,000
16. Peer-Reviewed Ovarian Cancer Research Program $20,000
17. Peer Reviewed Vision research in conjunction with the DoD Vision Center of Excellence $4,000
18. Peer-Reviewed Prostate Cancer Research Program $80,000
19. Peer-Reviewed Spinal Cord Research Program $12,000
20. Research in Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders $5,200
21. SBIR to the core funded RDT&E $1,200
22. Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) $6,400
23. Pain Management Task Force Research $4,000
24. Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program $50,000
25. Neurofibromatosis Research $16,000

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MORE INFORMATION:

H.R. 1, Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011:  http://rules.house.gov/Legislation/legislationDetails.aspx?NewsID=100 

CR DoD Funding Tables:  See Page 54 of 55 --  http://www.rules.house.gov/Media/file/PDF_112_1/legislativetext/2011crapprops/FY%202011%20Department%20of%20Defense%20Base%20Funding.pdf

LUNG CANCER ALLIANCE REACHES OUT TO VETERANS, VETERANS HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS

Pledges Continued Support to Reduce Lung Cancer Mortality Among Veterans

Respiratory symptoms a frequently reported symptom among Gulf War veterans; CT screening may be important for some veterans

Written by the Lung Cancer Alliance

Washington, DC—Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) salutes the nation's 21.9 million Veterans who have so nobly served our country and pledges to continue to make the high incidence of lung cancer among Veterans one of its highest priority issues.

Admiral T. Joseph Lopez, USN (Ret.), a member of the LCA board and only the second admiral in the Navy to rise to a four star rank from direct commissioning from the enlisted ranks said, “Lung cancer kills more Americans and Veterans than all other major cancers combined and it is attacking our Veterans with a higher frequency than our civilians, and now that we have incontestable evidence that early detection with CT screening can save lives, we simply must bring this benefit to our Veterans as expeditiously as possible.  We can do no less.”

Admiral Lopez recommends coordination between the VA and DOD in identifying those at highest risk and developing a comprehensive program of screening and early disease management.

“If we do this right and integrate CT screening for those at high risk into our Veteran and Military healthcare system  in an efficient and cost effective way,  we can set the standards for the civilian population and not only extend life, but save lives,” he said.

“What we cannot do is ignore this. I believe that screening should be our first step and the optimum choice to save and extend life for potential lung cancer victims in our Veteran community,” he said.

One of the first studies to document disparity in lung cancer incidence and mortality was carried out by the VA in 1987 and indicated that former Marine ground troops in Vietnam died of lung cancer at a 58% higher rate than marines who did not serve in the war.  

According to the most recent U.S.Census update, 35% of veterans today are from the Vietnam era.

Last week, the National Cancer Institute announced the results of a large, 53,000 person, eight year civilian study which showed that screening a high risk population with CT scans can reduce lung cancer deaths by 20%. 

LCA President and CEO Laurie Fenton-Ambrose said: “Veterans deserve our deepest gratitude for their extraordinary sacrifice and unyielding protection of our freedoms. We can help express that by moving quickly to bring the benefits of CT screening to those who are at high risk for lung cancer.”

Lung Cancer Alliance, www.lungcanceralliance.org, is the only national non profit dedicated exclusively to providing patient support and advocacy for those living with or at risk for lung cancer.  Lung Cancer Alliance is committed to reversing decades of stigma and neglect by empowering patients, elevating awareness and changing health policy.

To learn more, please click here to download the 2009 Lung Cancer and Veterans Fact Sheet (pdf).

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SOURCE:  http://lungcanceralliance.org/news/2010-veterans-day.html