Legislative Testimony: An Act Providing Resources for Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Lung Cancer
For Immediate Release
Date: 2/21/07
Contact:
Renee Gaudette, (203) 436-8533 or renee.gaudette@yale.edu
Senator Handley, Representative Sayers, and members of the Committee:
Thank you for the opportunity to testify on proposed S.B. No. 1033, An Act Providing Resources for Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Lung Cancer.
My name is Jerold Mande and I am associate director for public policy at the Yale Cancer Center, at the Yale University School of Medicine, I am on the board of directors of the Connecticut Cancer Partnership, the state cancer planning body, and I am a former cancer policy adviser at the White House.
While the passion of the lung cancer patient advocates on this issue is well founded, I urge the committee to proceed with caution on S.B. 1033.
Tragically, unlike breast and colon cancer, we do not yet have a screening test for lung cancer that we know will extend life or improve the quality of life. A large NIH study is underway to help answer questions about lung cancer screening.
We do desperately need better lung cancer screening. That is why the Connecticut Cancer Partnership has a proposal to establish a state lung cancer registry. This registry would provide an important tool to enable Connecticut’s scientists to lead the way in developing effective lung cancer screening programs.
I would welcome the opportunity to work with the committee to do more to help lung cancer patients and to develop an effective screening program.
Thank you.