Page 1 of 2
Lung Foundation Australia Media Release
www.lungfoundation.com.au
DATE
More lung cancer research funding will save lives
Lung Foundation Australia is calling on the Federal Government to increase life-saving research funding as
part of November’s International Lung Cancer Awareness month.
That’s why the Lung Foundation is shining a light on lung cancer, raising much needed funds for research
and highlighting the inequities lung cancer patients and their families face at a special community event
in <location> on <date>.
Lung Foundation Australia CEO, Heather Allan, said only five per cent of tumour-specific research funding
was allocated to investigating lung cancer, despite being Australia’s biggest cancer killer.i
“More Australians die from lung cancer than breast, ovarian and prostate cancer patients combined,” Mrs
Allan said.ii
“In fact, more than 8,600 Australians die each year due to lung cancer, that’s more than 23 people a
day,ii” she said.
“Around 11,500 Australians are diagnosed with lung cancer each year and this figure is expected to rise
by a further 21 per cent by the year 2020.iii
“There is a clear correlation between funds allocated to cancer research and improved survival rates.
“The five year survival rate for both breast and prostate cancer patients is 90 per cent or more and has
improved dramatically over the past 25 years.i
“The five year survival rate for lung cancer patients remains low at 14 per cent.i
“Lung cancer survival rates will improve if more funding is allocated to lung cancer research.
“Lung Foundation Australia is calling for more money to go into lung cancer research to fight this disease,
to find better treatments and to aim for a cure.”
<Health Professional Name>, <Role>, <Location> said research led to better patient outcomes and was
critical to saving lives.
“Recent advances in lung cancer screening, early detection and treatment have provided a new ray of
hope for patients and their families,” <Dr/Prof Surname> said.
“We applaud the breakthroughs other cancers have seen and we want to see these kinds of
breakthroughs for lung cancer patients,” <he/she> said.
<patient name>, who was diagnosed with <ie. stage four lung cancer two years ago>, said more research
meant there would be even more options for her to live better and longer.
Lung Foundation Australia is dedicated to supporting people affected by lung disease and to making lung health a priority for all Australians.
To arrange an interview or to find out more about our work, please contact Laura Guthrie on 07 3251 3644,
email laura@lungfoundation.com.au or visit www.lungfoundation.com.au
Page 2 of 2
Lung Foundation Australia Media Release
www.lungfoundation.com.au
“Thanks to research into treatments, every time one treatment stops working, another treatment pops
up,” <he/she> said.
As someone who has never smoked and leads a healthy lifestyle, <patient> is also passionate about
raising awareness about lung cancer which she said is ‘not just a smokers disease’.
“If you have lungs, you can get lung cancer, it doesn’t discriminate,” said <patient name>.
“We’re encouraging the community to come together to raise awareness about this unspoken disease
and donate to our lung cancer research appeal.”
Every dollar raised from this campaign will be invested in local lung cancer research,
https://shinealightonlungcancer.everydayhero.com/au/LFA
<Location> Shine A Light on lung cancer event Information:
Date:
Time:
Location:
Contact:
About Lung Foundation Australia
Lung Foundation Australia is a national organisation supporting all aspects of lung disease from COPD to lung cancer
to rarer lung diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis. Our goal is to make lung health a priority for all through advocacy,
training, patient and health professional support, research and increasing awareness of the value of lung health.
i
Cancer Australia 2014. Cancer Research in Australia: an overview of funding to cancer research projects and research programs in Australia 2006
to 2011, Cancer Australia, Surry Hills, NSW.
ii
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2014. Cancer in Australia: an overview 2014. Cancer series
No 90. Cat. no. CAN 88. Canberra: AIHW.
iii
AIHW 2012. Cancer incidence projections, Australia 2011 to 2020. Cat.no. CAN 62. Canberra: AIHW.
Lung Foundation Australia is dedicated to supporting people affected by lung disease and to making lung health a priority for all Australians.
To arrange an interview or to find out more about our work, please contact Laura Guthrie on 07 3251 3644,
email laura@lungfoundation.com.au or visit www.lungfoundation.com.au