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September 5, 2007 |
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death
in the world. The incidence is rising at an alarming rate in both men
and women, particularly in the developing world. Ninety percent of cases
are caused by active or passive smoking, and therefore, could be avoided
or prevented. Smoking is a major factor in the development of cancers,
cardiovascular disease and chronic lung disease. If the global epidemic
caused from tobacco, particularly the epidemic of lung cancer deaths,
is to be decreased in the next few decades, smoking cessation must be
a key component of our strategy.(Peto, 2000) Because smoking tobacco most
often begins in childhood or early adolescence, nicotine addiction in
this population must be prevented. In order to help achieve its goal of
eliminating lung cancer, the IASLC: |
| 1. |
Requests governments to: |
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| - |
Ratify the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and work
to speedily implement its Articles. |
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Work within each of the members Cancer Centers or Clinics
to promote smoking cessation and a complete smokefree workplace
campus. |
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Promote smoking and all tobacco prevention programs, particularly
those that are focused on youths. |
| - |
Promote legislation or regulations that enforce smokefree
public places, including transportation systems particularly
to protect non-smokers from the effects of secondhand smoking. |
| - |
Promote educational programs that warn of the deadly effects
of tobacco on health, including programs with the school systems. |
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Increase taxes on tobacco in order to decrease its use. |
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Encourage governments to enforce anti-smuggling laws with
increased surveillance |
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Initiate legislative action
for ultimate elimination of manufacture and sales of tobacco
products |
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| 2. |
Encourage other medical societies and health care institutions to
join in campaigns against smoking and for anti-smoking education. |
| 3. |
Encourage all health care providers to receive training in counseling
on stopping smoking. |
| 4. |
Requests all industrial sectors and media organs to eliminate tobacco
advertising and marketing. |
| 5. |
Promises to produce materials that will aid in education concerning
smoking and lung cancer. |
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| Peto R, Darby S, Deo H, Silcocks P, Whitley E, Doll R. Smoking, smoking
cessation , and lung cancer in the UK since 1950: combination of national
statistics with two case-control studies. BMJ 2000;321:323-329 |
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