S. 332 would establish a comprehensive interagency response to reduce lung cancer mortality in a timely manner.
Detailed Summary
Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to implement a comprehensive program to achieve a 50% reduction in the mortality rate of lung cancer by 2015. Includes within such program: (1) a strategic review and prioritization of research grants; (2) an expansion of research programs, such as on predispositions to lung cancer; and (3) the expedited development of computer assisted diagnostic, surgical, treatment, and drug testing innovations.
Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the Secretary to provide incentives for the development of chemoprevention drugs for precancerous conditions of the lung, drugs for targeted therapeutic treatments and vaccines for lung cancer, and new agents to curtail or prevent nicotine addiction.
Provides for compassionate access to drugs, biological products, and devices under the lung cancer mortality reduction program. Requires the Secretary to establish an early disease research and management program targeted at the high incidence and mortality rates among minority and low income populations.
Requires the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to coordinate with the Secretary in: (1) the development of the lung cancer mortality reduction program under this Act; (2) the implementation of an early detection and disease management research program for military personnel and veterans whose smoking history and exposure to carcinogens during active duty service has increased their risk for lung cancer; and (3) the implementation of coordinated care programs for military personnel and veterans diagnosed with lung cancer.
Requires the Secretary to establish a Lung Cancer Advisory Board to monitor the programs established under this Act.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 1/27/2009: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
Martha Felmet
April 7, 2009, 9:52pm (report abuse)Many other forms of cancer have people and organizations that work together to raise support for finding a cure or at least for extending life. My husband is fighting stage 4 small-cell lung cancer. The treatments are barbaric...chemo and radiation...and then only a 5% chance of survival! It has been said that because of the source of this cancer, smoking, that sympathies are less. How can this be? We are talking about peoples'lives! Yes, they may have chosen to smoke. But, isn't it our government that has, through the years, encouraged the smoking as the cigarette manufacturers have received financial, public and much advertising support. Then, this same government looks with disdain upon those that fall victim to this disease. We must change our focus. We must choose to commit more to research to give this sector of sufferers a chance for survival. Please pass this bill! Thank you.
MaryBeth Harnisch
April 14, 2009, 5:26pm (report abuse)This isn't just a disease that smokers get. Less than 10% of those who smoke will actually get lung cancer. I am 8 years out from a non small cell lung cancer diagnosis totally unrelated to smoking. I am 45 years old. Lung cancer is a public health emergency, killing more people annually than any other type of cancer and sadly, many of these people are under 45 and have never smoked. Isn't it time that we started focusing on early detection and improved therapies to eradicate this disease rather than play the blame game? It's time to change the face of lung cancer to accurately reflect those that it claims: the American public not just the old smoker.
Barbara Betzger
May 19, 2009, 8:25pm (report abuse)Lung cancer kills more people that all other cancers combined and is the least funded. Lung cancer victims are blamed for their disease, are denied access to early detection and receive virtually no research funding for the greatest cancer killer of men and women in this country. This isn't about cancer, its about ethics and justice. No one deserves to die of lung cancer. States have received billions of dollars in tobacco settlement money which is nothing more than a payoff from the tobacco industry. Not a dime for lung cancer research. Withdrawal from tobacco is harder than withdrawal from heroin, but the government loves tobacco and tobacco money. When I read recently that doctors warn that women who drink alcohol could cause breast cancer, can you imagine all breast cancer funding stopped and telling women they deserve to die because they drank alcohol. No more pink ribbons, billions in pink marketing, avon marches, etc. Just go away and die and keep quiet.
Doris Taylor
June 8, 2009, 10:27pm (report abuse)I never smoked and alas I got lung cancer.My daughter age 47 died from lung cancer. Also my mother, brother, sister, and nephew died of lung cancer. This deadly disease needs to be funded to find a cure! It isn't about smoking! It's about early detection and research to find a cure!
Linda Sokol
July 25, 2009, 8:33am (report abuse)Please, please, please give access to lung cancer patients that cannot get experimental treatments might save their lives. Some have already been proven safe in Phase II trials and have promising survival potential. Why should patients suffer the long wait of a Phase III trial that the FDA requires to prove efficacy when they will die waiting? For compassionate reasons we must change this policy and adopt the new proposed policy in this bill for people that are dying of aggressive lung cancer, please.