PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, actor Jack Huston, a star of the hit television show Boardwalk
Empire and the upcoming remake of Ben Hur, took on an
important new role as lung cancer advocate as he challenged Europeans to
A.C.T. – be Aware, get Checked, and Talk with their doctor about lung
cancer. After losing his grandfather to lung disease and his best friend
and mentor, Peter Blythe, to lung cancer, Huston was motivated to take
action by partnering with Bristol-Myers
Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) and leading advocacy group Lung Cancer
Europe (LuCE) to ask the public, particularly those at high risk, what’s
their Next Lung Cancer A.C.T.?
Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer in Europe with an estimated
353,000 deaths each year – more than breast cancer, colorectal and
prostate cancers combined. In Europe, lung cancer is the third most
common cancer among women. Despite the growing prevalence, a new survey
conducted among more than 8,200 participants in nine European countries
showed that lung cancer knowledge is very low, with nearly six in 10
people (57%) surveyed saying that they are not knowledgeable about the
disease. Further, one in five people (20%) could not identify the
symptoms of lung cancer, including persistent cough, and one in 10
people (10%) do not know the risk factors, such as exposure to cigarette
smoking.
Huston, along with lung cancer advocates and oncologists, unveiled the
survey results at the European Cancer Congress (ECC) 2015 in Vienna, as
well as a short film highlighting the personal stories of lung cancer
patients.
“Like many Europeans, I know firsthand the devastating impact cancer can
have on a family,” said Huston. “I’ve joined The Next Lung Cancer A.C.T.
in hopes of encouraging others to be mindful of the risk factors and
symptoms of lung cancer and the importance of taking action now.”
Key findings of the survey showed:
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Six in 10 respondents (62%) believe lung cancer is a smoker’s disease,
although smoking is only one risk factor for lung cancer
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45 percent believe that breast cancer is the leading cause of death
among women as compared to 8 percent who responded lung cancer
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Nearly half of all respondents (46%) said they are not concerned about
getting lung cancer, including 43 percent who have experience with
lung cancer and 36 percent who are daily smokers
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Eight in 10 people (83%) have never spoken to their doctor about lung
cancer; an equal number of smokers (77%) also report this behavior
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Following the survey, the majority of respondents (90%) expressed a
willingness to take action to reduce their risk of lung cancer,
including reducing their exposure to carcinogen (cancer-causing
substances or agents) (50%), limit exposure to secondhand smoke (48%),
and talking to their doctor (43%)
“It’s a pivotal time for lung cancer – the disease remains an enormous
public threat in Europe but we are seeing promising research in the lung
cancer space,” said LuCE board member and lung cancer survivor, Regine
Deniel Ihlen. “That is why now is the time for people to act by being
aware, taking steps to get checked and having an ongoing dialogue with
their physicians.”
“At ECCO we are committed to helping people understand the signs that
indicate that they may have cancer, as well as recognizing ways in which
the disease may be prevented,” said Professor Martine Piccart, President
of the European CanCer Organization (ECCO). “That is why we are happy to
be hosting the launch of this campaign, and we wish it every success.”
“At Bristol-Myers Squibb, we are committed to fighting lung cancer
through our research in oncology and by supporting the global lung
cancer community,” said Emmanuel
Blin, senior vice president, Head of Commercialization, Policy and
Operations, Bristol-Myers Squibb. “The Next Lung Cancer A.C.T.
represents our ongoing dedication to helping to empower those with
cancer by providing them with knowledge to better understand the risks
of lung cancer and how to take action.”
About The Next Lung Cancer A.C.T.
The Next Lung Cancer A.C.T. is a public awareness campaign designed to
encourage the public, particularly those at high risk of lung cancer, to
take ACTion against the disease by being Aware, getting Checked
and Talking to their doctor. The Next Lung Cancer A.C.T. is
sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb, in collaboration with Lung Cancer
Europe (LuCE). For more information on the campaign please visit www.TheNextLungCancerACT.eu.
About the Survey and TNS
TNS conducted the survey. TNS, the world’s largest custom research
agency, is a well-recognized research group for their quality and
authoritative research.
Participants in the 12-question, self-administered online omnibus survey
were 8,263 Europeans, ages 16-54 across nine different countries in
Europe: Austria, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands,
Spain, Switzerland and Turkey. The survey was conducted between July 30,
2015 and August 7, 2015. The results were tested at 95% significant. At
95% confidence level, if the study were repeated, the results would not
fluctuate more than 3.0-3.4 percentage points in either direction for
the population surveyed in each country.
About Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths globally, resulting in
more than 1.5 million deaths each year, according to the World Health
Organization (WHO). In Europe alone, lung cancer is responsible for an
estimated 353,000 deaths from the disease every year – more than breast
cancer, colorectal and prostate cancers combined. It has the highest
economic burden of all cancers in the European Union, costing an
estimated €18.8 billion or 15 percent of overall cancer costs.
About LuCE
Lung Cancer Europe (LuCE) is a voice of lung cancer patients, their
families and survivors at a European level. LuCE provides a European
platform for already existing lung cancer patient advocacy groups and
supports the establishment of national lung cancer patient groups in
different European countries where such groups do not yet exist.
LuCE aims to raise awareness about inequities regarding the access to
lung cancer treatment and care in Europe. Moreover, it advocates
European policies that will lead to improvements in lung cancer
prevention, early detection, treatment and care. LuCE also supports
national lung cancer patient groups in helping raise awareness for lung
cancer among the European public.
About Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company committed to
discovering, developing and delivering innovative medicines that help
patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about
Bristol-Myers Squibb, visit www.bms.com,
or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bmsnews.