Public has little sympathy for smokers’ lung cancer

OVER a quarter of Irish people believe nonsmokers should have their lung cancer treatment prioritised over smokers, according to a Marie Keating Foundation survey.

As many as 27% said that people who don’t smoke should be given priority, according to data released as part of International Lung Cancer Month.

Almost a fifth of people (17%) said that health insurers should not cover smokers for lung cancer treatment with such a response accounting for more than a quarter (29%) in respondents under 25.

In total 34% of adults felt lung cancer sufferers faced public stigma that patients suffering from other cancers did not and one in ten felt this was acceptable.

In response to the findings the Marie Keating Foundation have developed a campaign to re-educate the public on the reality of lung cancer.

CEO of the organisation Liz Yeates said the campaign aimed to challenge the stereotypes associated with lung cancer. ‘Many people have an image of who they believe a lung cancer patient is, but this campaign illustrates the variety of people it can affect. We want to change the conversation around lung cancer from one of judgement to one of empathy and support’.

Every year in Ireland more than 2,500 people are diagnosed with lung cancer yet the five-year survival rate is just 18%.