Press releases

February 7 2006

UK lung cancer patients demand increased Government spending and better patient access to treatment

Lung cancer patients are calling on the government to acknowledge the poor state of care for sufferers of the UK’s biggest cancer killer with the launch today of the first Lung Cancer Patients’ Charter.

Despite claiming the lives of more than 38,000 people in the UK every year – more than leukemia, breast and prostate cancer combined – lung cancer receives just four percent of the national cancer research budget. It also falls far behind other major cancers in the provision of optimal care, information and treatment for patients.

The three point Patients’ Charter, initiated by The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and Macmillan Cancer Relief, challenges government to address these inadequacies by setting out the minimum standards of care lung cancer patients should expect to receive.

Terry Kavanagh, a recovering lung cancer patient and trustee of The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation said: “Few lung cancer patients are able to fight for their rights and few have confidence they will receive the support and treatment they need.

“The goal of the Lung Cancer Patients’ Charter is to mobilise government, policy makers and health professionals to acknowledge the profound impact of lung cancer and ensure the provision of effective resources and support for patients and our families. A diagnosis of lung cancer is devastating enough without the added pressure of lack of access to treatment.”

The Patients’ Charter echoes the findings of the Commons Public Accounts Committee’s recent report on the NHS cancer plan, confirming the need for a national lung cancer awareness programme to highlight the symptoms of the disease and ensure patients seek diagnosis early.

According to The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, the stigma associated with lung cancer as a ‘smokers disease’ remains a major barrier in patients receiving the support and information they need, despite the fact that one in ten lung cancer cases are among people who have never smoked. 1

“There are continuing cancer inequalities faced by those most in need of help,” said Mike Unger, chief executive of The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. “Lung cancer has not received the attention afforded to other major cancers. Greater attention needs to be given to the emotional and practical difficulties experienced by lung cancer patients and their carers. Driving awareness of the devastating impact of lung cancer has to be a top government priority.”

Peter Cardy, Chief Executive, Macmillan Cancer Relief, said: “We are delighted to work in partnership with The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation on the Patients’ Charter. Lung cancer has been the poor relation for far too long and it’s time to ensure patients get the care that they deserve. We must now focus attention on the UK’s biggest cancer killer and so improve the quality of life for lung cancer patients.”

Supported by the National Lung Cancer Nurses Forum, the Patients’ Charter reaffirms the need for every lung cancer patient to have access to the same level of specialist treatment as is afforded to patients of other major cancers including access to a lung cancer specialist nurse throughout their lung cancer journey.

People can show their support by signing up to the Lung Cancer Patient Charter online at www.roycastle.org

Notes to Editors

1. ‘Lung Cancer and smoking statistics’, Cancer Research UK, http://info.cancerresearchuk.org

Text from The Lung Cancer Patients’ Charter

It is the fundamental right of every patient to be treated with dignity and respect.

All patients have the right to:

• Have the profound impact of lung cancer acknowledged by healthcare professionals, policy makers, politicians and the public. This will be achieved by:
  
  
• A nationwide lung cancer public awareness programme to make sure patients see their doctors early and get the proper diagnosis
• Educating GPs and other healthcare professionals on the signs and symptoms of lung cancer
• Raising the awareness of healthcare professionals and social services, of the emotional and practical difficulties experienced by lung cancer patients and their carers
• Securing serious funding for lung cancer research and treatment, comparable with other common cancers. This must include research into lung cancer screening techniques and programmes and supportive care.
• Access to the best treatment and care

Patients must:

• Be treated by a multi-disciplinary team of specialist lung cancer healthcare professionals
• Have access to a lung cancer specialist nurse throughout their lung cancer journey
• Be given rapid access to up-to-date treatments
• Be offered high quality patient focused information
• Be free of blame and stigma for having the disease

Patients must:

• Not be denied treatment or support because they are a smoker or ex-smoker
• Not be the recipient of any negative attitudes towards lung cancer

For a copy of the Lung Cancer Patient Charter please email cdolan@webershandwick.com

About The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation

The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation is the only charity in the world wholly dedicated to defeating lung cancer – the biggest cancer killer in the UK. The charity’s approach benefits current and future lung cancer sufferers alike:

The foundation funds research programmes to detect lung cancer at a very early stage, which will save lives and is vital to the development of a future therapy.

• The foundation offers patient support, advocacy and an information network providing information, guidance and support relevant to the needs of lung cancer patients and their families.
• The foundation facilitates support groups across the UK that assist sufferers to come to terms with the disease and provide patient advocacy services.
• The foundation operates ‘Quit Smoking’ services for adults (Fag Ends) and its KATS (Kids Against Tobacco Smoke) educational programme which encourages young people never to start smoking.
• The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation runs fundraising events and charity shops, both of which help to generate much needed voluntary donations (public and corporate), on which it relies to continue its fight to defeat lung cancer.

For further information please visit www.roycastle.org

About Macmillan Cancer Relief

Macmillan Cancer Relief provides the expert care and emotional support that makes a real difference to people living with cancer. We offer a range of innovative cancer services and are at the heart of improving cancer care throughout the UK.

For cancer information and support, contact the Macmillan CancerLine (Monday – Friday, 9.00am – 6.00pm) by freephone: 0808 808 2020, textphone: 0808 808 0121 or email: cancerline@macmillan.org.uk; or log on to www.macmillan.org.uk.

We are campaigning to get a better financial deal for people dealing with cancer. For information on the financial help available call 0800 500 800, or visit http://www.macmillan.org.uk/abetterdeal. For more information about our Better Deal campaign contact campaigns@macmillan.org.uk .

The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and Macmillan Cancer Relief are both members of The UK Lung Cancer Coalition (UKLCC). This powerful coalition of the UK’s leading lung cancer experts, senior NHS and Department of Health professionals, charities and healthcare companies is the UK’s largest multi-interest group in lung cancer. It is the first time that all the major charities with an interest in the disease have joined forces to fight lung cancer.

Issued by Weber Shandwick on behalf of The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation (Registered Charity 1046854) - for further media information please contact: