Fed: Hundreds die of lung cancer unnecessarily says peak group

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-2001
Fed: Hundreds die of lung cancer unnecessarily says peak group

The Cancer Council says hundreds of lung cancer sufferers are dying unnecessarily in
Australia because they're not being diagnosed early enough.

And the council's New South Wales chief says survival rates are lower in Australia
than in the United States because Australian doctors don't tend to explore the possibilities
for curing lung cancer patients.

Dr ANDREW PENMAN says there's a prevailing pessimism surrounding lung cancer, which
affects both doctors and patients, with the latter generally life-long smokers.

Dr PENMAN says these people -- who are often from the lower social classes -- are much
less inclined to push their doctors to get the best care.

Australia-wide, as few as 10 per cent of lung cancer patients survive beyond five years
-- compared to about 15 per cent in the US.

And in New South Wales, more than 80 per cent of patients die within a year of diagnosis.

Dr PENMAN says if Australia adopted the best treatments available for the disease,
250 lives would be saved each year.

AAP RTV as/arb/tb/jtb

KEYWORD: LUNG (SYDNEY)

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.