07/13/2010 // US // Get Cancer Answers // News Desk
U.S. – People diagnosed with lung cancer are commonly assumed to have contributed to their condition by smoking, information suggests. As reported by The New York Times, the percentage of people who get the disease, but have never smoked are impacted by the stigma associated those who have with regards to funding for research and advocacy for patients with lung cancer.
Dr. Michael Thun, an epidemiologist at the American Cancer Society, is quoted in the report as stating of the issue, “Lung cancer is underfunded and a major reason is the idea that it’s all related to smoking and it’s the smoker’s fault… This stigma has influenced both advocacy and research dollars.”
As noted in the report, the assumption may have an impact on diagnoses as well, with some patients who do not smoke or exhibit respiratory problems being misdiagnosed or diagnosed in a later stage of the disease.
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