Note: World Lung Foundation united with The Union North America. From January 2016, the combined organization is known as “Vital Strategies.”
(New York, NY) World Lung Foundation today released the following statement on the results of a National Cancer Institute research into the use of CT scans to detect lung cancer in smokers.
Peter Baldini, Chief Executive Officer and President of World Lung Foundation, said: “The results of the landmark trial announced by the National Cancer Institute today are welcome news and should help reduce deaths from lung cancer.
“The results of the landmark trial announced by the National Cancer Institute today are welcome news and should help reduce deaths from lung cancer. It would be tragic however if the results from this study create the impression that it is now less risky to use cigarettes and other tobacco products. Strong public education campaigns to warn about the use of tobacco should make it clear that tobacco causes all manner of diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiovascular disease.
Even more deaths could be avoided if governments would implement comprehensive tobacco control programs that combine such public education campaigns with tax increases and 100% smoke-free public spaces. The toll of tobacco is enormous worldwide and growing especially in the developing world where CT scans are not readily available. Policy makers and donors, then, should welcome new evidence to detect cancers early but continue focusing public policy and funding on measures that reduce all tobacco-related illnesses through continued efforts to reduce sales and consumption of tobacco products.”